we here omit several other Pieces of less Bulk and Note published since that Volume last mentioned containing the Chronicles and Histories of divers Cathedrals and Abbeys such as are the Annals of the Abbey of Winchester c. which have been published from the Cottonian and other Libraries in Monasticon Anglicanum and the first Volume of Anglia Sacra lately published by the late Learned and Industrious Mr. Wharton TO these likewise may be added the Histories of the Monasteries of Ely and Ramsey as also of Glastenbury by William of Malmesbury from whom we have taken several Things not only relating to that Abbey but the General History of England nor can I omit the History of John of Wallingford whom Matthew Paris mentions in his Lives of the Abbots of St. Albans as the 21st Abbot of St. Albans he wrote the History of the Kings of England as far as the 42d of King Henry the Third the first Part of which down to the Norman Conquest hath been published in the aforesaid last Volume at Oxford by the Learned Dr. Gale From all which last mentioned tho mingled with abundance of Monkish Trash we have here and there excerpted several excellent Remarks WE have also sometimes made use of Ranulph Higden his Polychronicon who was a Monk of Chester the first Part of which is published also by the said Dr. Gale as far as the Conquest and Matthew a Monk of Westminster his Flores Historiarum these Authors being Cotemporaries and collecting to the Reign of Edward the Third from all the rest of the Antient Writers abovementioned I have seldom used but as subsidiary Helps when the Passages they relate are not to be found any where else several other Authors they borrowed from being now lost or very rare to be met with HAVING now done with our printed Authors I proceed to those that continue still in Manuscript in the Bodleian and Cottonian Libraries and also in those of Lambeth Gresham's College and the Heraulds Office such as are John of Tinmouth his Historia Aurea Johannes Castorius in English Beaver his History of the Kings of England and John Rouse of Warwick his Collections on the same Subject together with above forty or fifty nameless Authors which I have perused to see what I could find in any of them that had not been taken notice of by others but how little they have answered in my Expectations the small Additions I have made from them I hope will satisfy the unprejudiced Reader and for any that are otherwise if they please to take the same Pains that I have done I wish their Labours may be better requited BVT as for the Extracts of Ecclesiastical Canons and Laws which I have inserted at the end of divers King's Reigns I have faithfully transcribed them ou◠of Sir Henry Spelman's first Volume of British Councils and Mr. Lambard's Archaionomia under their respective Years and have also compared and corrected them in a great Part from the Manuscript Notes of the Learned Junius at the end of the Cambridg Edition of Bede which is in the Bodleian Library or else by another Latin Manuscript Version of the Industrious Mr. Somner's And I do not know of any other Saxon Laws unless there be some of King Cnute's which remain as yet in Manuscript untranslated in the Bodleian Library as also in the Hands of Dr. Gale as I am well informed I hope they may be one day added to a new Edition of Mr. Lambard's most useful Work THVS having gone through all the chiefest English Historians both in Print and Manuscript that I know of relating to the Times before the Conquest which I think are as many and of as good Credit as any Countrey in Europe can shew in the like space of Time it may be expected I should say something in their Vindication since I find they have been attacked in a post-humous Treatise long since written by a Learned Civilian Sir Thomas Craig in Latin in answer to what Mr. Hollingshead has published concerning the Homage that was due from the Kings of Scotland to those of England and is lately translated into English by the Ingenious Mr. Ridpath and as I shall here faithfully give you his Arguments against the Antiquity and Credit of our Writers so I hope I shall return such Answers to them as will satisfy all impartial Readers HIS first Objection is That from the Death of Bede whose Credit he says he will every where preserve entire the English have no certain History nor Writer to the Reign of King Henry the First except that Fragment of Ethelwerd's for says he I do not acknowledg that Fragment of Ingulphus who preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years as an History nor Asserius Menevensis who wrote only concerning the Transactions of his own King Alfred And lest he should be thought to affirm any thing rashly He brings William of Malmesbury to witness the Matter saying That all the Memorials of Transactions from the Death of Bede to his own Time which was in the Reign of Henry I. about 1142. were utterly lost nor was there any who followed that Study or indeavoured to pursue the thread of History till himself NOW to give an Answer to this Learned Advocate and take him Point by Point as he goes on in the first Place I am sorry to find a Person otherwise every ways Able and Skillful in his own Profession so ignorant in our English Historians since if he had not been so he could not have committed almost as many Mistakes as he hath wrote Lines for in the first Place he calls Ingulph and Ethelwerd two Fragments whereas if he had been pleased to have looked upon either of them he would have found them entire Pieces so far as they went and we call Polybius Diodorus Siculus Salust Livy Historians not Fragments altho each of them be imperfect only the Edition that was then published of Ingulph wanted the Laws of William the Conqueror and some few Sheets at the Conclusion which have been since added AND whereas he says that Ingulph preceded Ethelwerd twenty Years he is so far from being in the right of that that the direct contrary is true for Ingulph lived and wrote above one hundred Years after Ethelwerd had finished his History with King Edgar's Reign whose Eulogy he only gives us in barbarous Verse AND as for what the Advocate says concerning William of Malmesbury he much misrepresents the Sense of this Author who does not affirm that there were no Memorials from the Death of Bede to his Time but the contrary for he mentions the Saxon Annals in his Proem in these words Sunt sanè quaedam vetustatis Indicia patrio Sermone chronico more per annos Domini ordinata also in his Book de Antiquitate Glastoniae published by Dr. Gale as above he citeth them as good Authority Tradunt Annales bonae credulitatis c. Nay Sir Thomas Craig himself I suppose through Forgetfulness has allowed
it is to this Year we are to refer the great Council which Bede tells us was held in the Kingdom of the West Saxons in which after the Death of Bishop Hedda the Bishoprick of that Province became divided into two one whereof was conferred on Daniel who held it at the time when Bede wrote his History and the other was bestowed upon Aldhelm above-mentioned then Abbot of Malmesbury who was now made Bishop of Shireburn and when he was only an Abbot did at the Command of a Synod of the whole Nation write an excellent Book against that Errour of the Britains in not keeping Easter at the due time whereby he converted many of those Britains which were then subject to the West Saxons to the Catholick Observation thereof Of whose other Works likewise Bede gives us there a Catalogue being a Person says he admirable in all Civil as well as Ecclesiastical and Divine Learning and as William of Malmesbury further informs us was the first of the English Saxons who wrote Latin Verses with a Roman Genius There is here in the Saxon Annals a Gap for the space of 3 Years in which I think we may according to H. Huntington's Account place what Bede relates in the Chapter and Book last cited viz. That Daniel and Aldhelm yet holding their Sees it was ordained by a Synodal Decree That the Province of the South Saxons which had hitherto belonged to the Diocess of Winchester should now be an Episcopal See and have a Bishop of its own and so Ceadbert who was then Abbot of the Monastery of Selsey was consecrated first Bishop of that Place who dying Ceolla succeeded in that Bishoprick but he likewise dying some Years before Bede wrote his History that Bishoprick then ceased This Year the Saxon Annals began with the Death of Bishop Aldhelm whom it calls Bishop of Westwude for so Shireburne was then called after whom one Forther took the Bishoprick and this year Ceolred succeeded in the Kingdom of the Mercians for now Kenred King of the West Saxons went to Rome and Offa with him and Kenred remained there to his Live's end and the same year Bishop Wilferth or Wilfred deceased at Undale his Body was brought to Rypon in Yorkshire This is the Bishop whom King Egferth long since forced to go to Rome There being divers Things put very close together under this Year they will need some Explanation This Offa here mentioned was as Bede and William of Malmesbury relate the Son of Sigher King of the East Saxons who being a young Man of a sweet Behaviour as well as handsom Face in the Flower of his Youth and highly beloved by his People and having not long before succeeded to the Kingdom after Sighard and Senfrid above-mentioned he courted Keneswith the Daughter of King Penda whom he desired to marry but it seems not long after their Marriage she over-perswaded him to embrace a Monastick Life so that he now went to Rome for that End And Bede tells us expresly that both these Kings left their Wives Relations and Countries for Christ's sake But to this Offa succeeded Selred the Son of Sigebert the Good in the Kingdom of the East Saxons H. Huntington proposes King Offa as a Pattern to all other Princes to follow and makes a long Exhortation to them to that purpose as if a King could not do GOD better Service nor more Good to Mankind by well-governing his People than by renouncing the World and hiding his Head in a Cell But such was the Fashion or rather Humour of that Age and the Affairs as well as Consciences of Princes being then altogether Govern'd by Monks it is no wonder if they extoll'd their own Profession as the only One wherein Salvation could certainly be obtained But since I have already given you from Bede and Stephen Heddi a large Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life and Actions above-mentioned I shall not need to add any more to it He was certainly a Man who had tried all the Vicissitudes of an adverse as well as a prosperous Fortune having been no less than three times deprived of his Bishoprick the first time unjustly but whether we may say the same of both the other seems doubtful for let his Friends say what they will it is evident he was at first deprived for opposing a very good Design viz. That of dividing the Northumbrian Kingdom into more Diocesses and he having the rich Monastery of Hagulstad under his Charge would not permit it to be made a Bishoprick thô the Diocess was more than he could well manage and this seems to have been the true Original of that great Quarrel between him and the two Kings Egfrâ—d and Alfred as you have already heard so it should seem the Wrong pretended to have been done him was none at all or else such holy Men as St. Cuthbert St. John of Beverlie and Eatta are described to be would never have accepted of the Bishopricks of York and Hagulstad during the time of his Deprivation and it is very strange that two Arch-Bishops successively with the greater part of the Bishops of England should have agreed to his Deprivation if there had not been great Cause for it nor would so holy and knowing a Woman as the Abbess Hilda have been so much against him had not there been some substantial Reason to justifie it but he had the Pope on his side who always encouraged Appeals to Rome and then it was no wonder if he prevailed but he was certainly a Prelate of a high Spirit and great Parts and who building a great many Monasteries by the Benevolence of the Kings and Princes of that Time and himself thô a Bishop being Abbot of two of them at once it was no wonder if he grew very rich which together with his high way of Living being the first Bishop of that Age who used Silver Vessels it procured him the Envy of those Princes but he was a grand Patron of the Monks and therefore it is not to be wondred at if they cried him up for a Saint of whom the Writer of his Life which he Dedicates to Acca his Successour relates too many Miracles to be believed raising the Dead cuting the Lame being very ordinary Feats but the Monks being the only Writers of that Age we must be contented with what Accounts they will give us thô thus much must be acknowledged in his Commendation That he converted great Multitudes to the Christian Faith and caused the Four Gospels to be written in Letters of Gold But having given you this Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life it is fit I say somewhat further of his Death concerning which the Author above-mentioned tells us That having lived 4 Years in Peace after his last Restitution he at last went to visit the Monasteries which he had founded in the South Parts of England where he was received by his Abbots whom he had put in with great Joy till coming to a Monastery which
relates Swebriht King of the East-Saxons died this Year Eadbriht or Egbert the Son of Eatta who was the Son of Leodwald began to Reign in the Kingdom of the Northumbers and held it One and Twenty Years Egbert Arch-Bishop of York was his Brother who were both buried in the City of York in the same Church-Porch But it there is an over-sight in these Annals for this Eadbriht above mentioned must be the same with Eadbriht under the former Year This Year also according to Simeon of Durham Swebright King of the East-Saxons died Ceolwulf late King of Northumberland died this Year according to Mat. Westminster in the Monastery of Lindisfarne Also as Simeon of Durham relates Nothelm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased but the Saxon Annals defer his Death two Years longer This Year Acca Bishop of Hagulstad deceased who as the same Author relates was had in great Reverence not only during his Life but also after his Decease for his great Sanctity and supposed Miracles King Ethelred deceased and Cuthred his Cousin succeeded in the Kingdom of the West Saxons and held it 16 Years This King made sharp War against Ethelbald King of the Mercians and that with various Success as H. Huntington tells us sometimes making Peace and then again renewing the War This Year also Nothelm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased and Cuthbriht was Consecrated in his stead as was also Dun Bishop of Rochester after the Death of Eadulph ' This Year also the City of York was burnt together with the Monastery as Simeon has it Now was held the great Synod at Cloveshoe where were present Ethelbald King of the Mercians and Cuthbert the Arch-Bishop with many other wise Men. Where this Cloveshoe was is now very uncertain since the Name is wholly lost some suppose it to have been Cliffe in Kent near Gravesend but it is not likely that Ethelbald being now the chief King of England would permit this Council to have been held out of his own Dominions so that others suppose it to have been Abingdon in Berkshire which was anciently called Secvesham where as the old Book of that Abbey tells us was anciently a Royal Seat of the Kings and where there used to be great Assemblies of the People concerning the arduous Affairs of the Mercian Kingdom But thô we are more certain of the Decrees of this Council than of the Place where it was held yet since it was a meer Ecclesiastical Synod and no great Council of that Kingdom and that its Decrees were chiefly made in Confirmation of the Charter of King Withred concerning free Elections to Monasteries in Kent according to the Directions of the Archbishop of Canterbury I shall refer you to the Canons themselves as they are to be found in the Decem Scriptores and Sir H. Spelman's British Councils and shall only take notice of this one that now Bishops were first ordered to visit their Diocesses once a Year This Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians and Cuthred King of the West Saxons fought against the Britains H. Huntington tell us That these two Kings now joyning their Forces brought two great Armies into the Field against the Welsh-men who not being able to defend themselves were forced to flie leaving great Spoils behind them so both the Kings returned home Victorious According to Florence of Worcester Wilfred the second Bishop of York of that Name died after he had fate 30 Years Also this Year according to the Annals Daniel resigned the Bishoprick of Winchester being worn out by Age and Hunferth succeeded him and they say the Stars seemed to fall from Heaven But Simeon of Durham calls them with more probability such Lightnings as those of that Age had never before seen About this time also according to Simeon there happened a great Fight between the Picts and the Britains I suppose he means those of Camberland for no other Britains lay near the Picts This year Bishop Daniel above-mentioned deceased after he had been 43 years Bishop ' This year Selred King of the East-Saxons was slain But by whom or which way is not here said This Selred was Sirnamed The Good and reigned 38 years Switheard King of the East-Angles dying Elfwold succeeded him as the Chronicle of Mailros relates This Year also was held the second Council at Cloveshoe under Cuthbert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury there being present beside the Bishops Abbots and many Ecclesiasticks Ethelbald King of the Mercians with his chief Men and Ealdermen In which besides many Decrees concerning the Unity of the Church and for promoting Peace which you may see at large in Sir H. Spelman's First Volume of Councils and after the reading of Pope Zachary's Letters to the People of England to live more continently These among other Decrees were likewise passed viz. 1. That the Reading of the Holy Scriptures be more constantly used in Monasteries 2. That Priests receive no Reward for baptizing Children or for other Sacraments 3. That they learn the Creed and the Lord's Prayer in English and are likewise to understand and interpret into their own Tongue the Words of Consecration in the Celebration of Mass and also of Baptism c. This year Cynric Aetheling that is Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West Saxons was slain and Eadbriht King of Kent died after six Years Reign and Ethelbryht the Son of King Withred succeeded him This Cynric was he whom H. Huntington relates to be Son of Cuthred King of the West Saxons who thô young in Years was a great Warriour for his time yet perished in a sudden Sedition of his own Souldiers but where he does not say Simeon affirms That Elfwald King of the East Angles now dying Hunbeanna and Albert divided that Kingdom between them but what relation they had to the late King he does not tell us This year Cuthred King of the West Saxons in the 12th Year of his Reign fought against Ethelune that couragious Ealderman H. Huntington calls him a bold Earl who moved Sedition against his Lord and thô he were inferiour in the number of his Souldiers yet maintained the Fight a great while by his sole Courage and Conduct but while he was ready to get the Victory a Wound he then unfortunately received so disabled him and disheartened his Men that the King's being the stronger as well as the juster Side did thereby prevail Also the same Year according to Simeon of Durham and the Chronicle of Mailros Eadbert King of Northumberland led Kynwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne Prisoner to the City of Beban who it seems had some ways rebelled against him for he then also caused the Cathedral Church of Lindisfarne to be besieged The same Year as Bede's Continuator relates Eadbert King of Northumberland made War upon the Picts and subdued all the Country of Kyle with other Territories joyning them to his own Dominions This Year according to the Saxon Annals King
yet there might very well have been before that time a publick School or Studium as it was then call'd where the Liberal Arts were taught as for the other Objection of the improbability of the old Scholars falling out with the new Professors in the very first Year of the Institution of the University that is as soon as ever they came thither this may be also answered by supposing that those Annals were written many Years after the Death of King Alfred from a Common received Tradition and so this transaction might have been dated there or Four Years later than it really happened as John Rouse in his Manuscript History of the Kings of England also places it I confess there is one Objection which I wish I could Answer and that is How Gildas and Nennius could study at Oxford when the latter was not so much as Born till about the Conclusion of this or Beginning of the following Century and much less the Former when even by the best Accounts of those Times the Pagan Saxons were then Masters of that part of England Having said thus much concerning the Antiquity of that Famous University to which I owe my Education I shall not trouble my self with enquiry into the Reality of those supposed Ancient Schools of Creeklad and Leacklade which the Monkish writers suppose to have been anciently called Greeklade and Latinelade the latter of which Derivations thô Mr. Camden justly explodes yet he seems to have more Veneration for the former since in the place from whence I have transcribed the above-cited Quotations he also tells us That the Muses were transported to Oxford from Creeklade now a small Town in Wilt-shire All the Authority for which that I know of beside uncertain Tradition depends upon the Credit of a Manuscript lately in the Liberary of Trinity Hall in Cambridge and is cited by Mr. Wheelock in his Notes upon Bede where speaking of Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he says That he held or maintained Schools in a Village near the Water which is called Greekislake but Mr. Somner in his Learned Glossary hath given us a much more likely Derivation of this place viz. from the Old Saxon Word Creek signifying a River or Torrent running either into some River or else into the Sea and Gelad which signified an emptying for it was anciently written Crecca Gelade and not Greeklade as some would now write it This Year the Pagans passing under the Bridge of Paris and from thence by the Seine up the River Meterne now called Marne as far as Cazii now Choisy and which Florence says signified a Royal Village where and at Jona a place we know not they staid Two Years also the same Year Deceased Charles the Grosse King of the Franks but Earnwulf his Brother's Son had expell'd him out of his Kingdom six Weeks before his Death after which it was divided into five Parts over whom were set five Kings but this partition was with Earnewulf's good leave for they all promised to Govern under him because none of them was Heir on the Fathers side besides himself alone therefore Earnwulf fixed the Seat of his Kingdom in the Countries lying on the East side of the Rhine whilst Rodâ—lf took the middle or inward part of the Kingdom and Odo or Otto the Western Part and Beorngar and Witha called in Latine Beringarius and Wido held Lombardy and all the Countries on that side the Mountains all which Kingdoms they held with much Discord Fighting two great Battles and wasting those Countries till such time as each of them had expell'd the other from his Kingdom also the same Year Ethelelm the Ealdorman carried the Alms of King Alfred and the West Saxons to Rome This was the Benevolence called Peter Pence which is here justly termed an Alms and not a Tribute as Modern Popish Writers have termed it But to return to our own Domestick Affairs Asser above-mentioned informs us that the Kingdom being now pretty well at quiet from the Danes the King began to mind his Civil Government to repair his Cities and Castles and also to build others in the most necessary places altering the whole face of the Country into a much better form and having walled several Towers and Castles he made them defensible against the Pagans Nor was he less careful in the Political Affairs of his Kingdom for divers of his own Subjects having under the name of Danes committed great Spoils and Rapines these the King resolving to punish and restrain from these Excesses he first of all divided all the Provinces of England into Counties and those again into Hundreds and Tythings so that every Legal Subject should dwell in some Hundred or Tything whereby if any were suspected of Robbery and being thereof Condemned or absolved by his Hundred or Tything they should either undergo due punishment or else if Innocent be acquitted But the Governours of Provinces who were before called Vice Domini and in English Saxon Geriffs he divided into two Offices That is into Judges whom we now call Justices and into Sheriffs who do yet retain that name and by the Kings care and industry in a short time there was so great a Tranquility through out the whole Kingdom that if a Traveller had happen'd to have lost a Bag of Money in the High-way he might have found it again untouched the next day And Bromton's Chronicle relates That thô there were Gold Bracelets hung up at the parting of several High-ways yet Justice was so strictly executed that no Man durst presume to touch them But in the Distribution of his own Family he followed the Example of King Solomon for dividing it into Three Companies or Bands he set a Chief over each of them so that every Captain with his Band performed his Service in the King's Palace for the space of one Month and then going with his Company to his own Estate he looked after his private Affairs for Two Months and so did each of them in their Order which Rotation of Officers this King observed all the rest of his Reign And to this Year also Sir H. Spelman refers that Great Council wherein King Alfred made those Laws that go under his Name in which after a Preface wherein he first recites and confirms the Ten Commandments as also divers other Laws which are set down in Exodus and Leviticus he concludes to this effect That whatsoever he found worthy of Observation either in the time of K. Ina his Kinsman or Offa King of the Mercians or of Ethelbert the first Christened King he had gathered them all together and committed those to writing which he thought most deserving omitting others which he judged less convenient in doing of which he had taken the Advice and had the Consent of his Wise-Men and having revised the Laws of those Princes he transcribed such of them as he liked into his own and by the Consent of the said Wise-men he thereof made a Collection and
p. 280. Hinguar their Captain with Twelve Hundred Men slain near the Castle of Kenwith Id. p. 281. Are signally beaten by King Aelfred so as to desire Peace on Conditions Id. p. 282 283. The Laws made between them and King Aelfred in a Common Council of the Kingdom acknowledging his Superiority over them Id. p. 285. Besiege the City of Rochester build a strong Fort before the Gates of it but however they are forced to retire and go to their Ships Id. p. 286. One Fleet of theirs beaten by King Alfred another meeting him on his Return home prove too hard for him The Peace lately made with King Alfred broke by the Danes of East-England Id. p. 286 287. Beaten by the Bretons and by Arnulf the Emperor Id. p. 298. Infest the Kingdom for Three years worse than ever their landing in Kent and their various Successes Id. p. 298 299 300 301 302. Fight at Holme with the Kentish-men and their success l. 5. p. 312 313. Break their League with King Edward the Elder afterwards are beaten by the English in Staffordshire Id. p. 315 316. Commit great Ravage and Slaughter in Oxfordshire and several other Countries but often worsted Id. p. 319 321. Their power beginning to decrease and that of the English to increase Id. p. 321 322. Burn Tavistock in less than Fifty years after it was founded l. 6. p. 4. With the Welshmen that assisted them routed by Howel ap Jevaf their Pyrates destroy Southampton and commit great Ravage there They land in Cornwal and Burn the Church and Monastery of St. Petroc Id. p. 20. They land in Dorsetshire and spoil the Isle of Portland Id. p. 21. Destroy Weedport that is Watchet in Somersetshire Id. p. 22. As likewise the whole Isle of Anglesey and the Town of Ipswich in Suffolk Id. p. 23. Several Tributes paid them and yet those did not long satisfy their Covetousness Id. p. 25 29 32. Their Fleet escape by flight from being encompassed by King Ethelred's Id. p. 23. Come hither again with Ninety three Ships and ravaging several Countries Id. p. 24 25. Maintained by the West-Saxons and received a great Tribute besides Id. p. 25. Take much plunder from the Welsh Cornwal and Devonshire c. Id. p. 26 27. And the Spoils Burnings and Desolations they made where-ever they came Id. p. 28.29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 45 46 47 74. Leagues made with them but they never regarded them long Id. 28 31. King Ethelred commands all the Danes that could be found in England to be slain with the reason why which was most barbarously put in Execution especially at London but not long after it was bloodily revenged Id. p. 29 30 31. They insolently demand greater Tribute of the King and Kingdom l. 6. p. 35. Two thousand of them perish by divers inward Torments Their submission to King Ethelred upon Conditions Id. p. 36 37. Upon a Peace with Edmond Ironside they take up their Winter-Quarters at London Id. p. 48. They and the English are reconciled and united at Oxford at a Great Council Id. p. 51. At the Election of Edward the Confessor the Great Council agreed and Swore That no Danes should Reign over them any more and why Id. p. 70. Lothen and Yrling Danes with Five and twenty Ships landing at Sandwic commit great havock and carry off abundance of Booty Id. p. 74. Daniel the Learned and most Pious Bishop of Bangor in what Age he lived among the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Daniel being worn out by Age resigns the Bishoprick of Winchester to Hunferth l. 4. p. 224. His Death after he had been Three and forty years a Bishop Id. p. 225. Darwent a River near York not far from which stood an Idol-Temple called Godmundingham in King Edwin's time l. 4. p. 174. David afterwards Sainted succeeds Dubritius in the Archbishoprick of Caer-Leon l. 3. p. 149. Is said to have been Uncle by the Mother side to King Athur Ibid. St. Davids destroyed by the Danes who slew Urgeney the Bishop of that See l. 6. p. 27. Deadly Feuds vid. Quarrels Death None to Die for small offences but Mercy to be shewn to such Criminals by King Cnute's Law l. 6. p. 58. He that dies in fight c. his Heriot shâ—ll be remitted and his Children shall equally divide his Goods and Lands between them Id. p. 60. Decennary every one of Twelve years old to be entered into it l. 6. p. 58 104. Decianus Catus solicited by the Romans here to send them some Assistance against the Iceni and Trinobantes l. 2. p. 47 48. Decimation a very strange one indeed which the Danes made both of the Monks and Laity so that but One out of Ten persons was kept alive l. 6. p. 36. Decius Scil. Quintus Trajanus a great Enemy to Christianity he raised the Seventh Persecution l. 2. p. 81. Defamation punishable by cutting out the Tongue of the Party or redeeming it with the Value of his Head l. 6. p. 13. Degradation of a Priest for Murther as well as Confiscation of all his Estate unless his Lord will obtain his Pardon by the Price of his Head l. 5. p. 297. Degsa-stan or Degstan where Adian jealous of Ethelfrid's great Success came against him with a powerful Army but was routed l. 4. p. 159. Deira a Kingdom in Northumberland whose Kings were generally named Ella l. 4. p. 152. And Bernicia united into one Kingdom in Oswald's time Id. p. 178. Demetae that is South-Welshmen l. 3. p. 139 Vid. Venedoti Denulp Bishop of Winchester his Education Advancement and Death l. 5. p. 315. Deomed supposed to be South-Wales l. 5. p. 319. Deorham now Durham in Gloucestershire l. 3. p. 146. Deposition the first Instance of it by the Authority of the Great Council l. 4. p. 227. Alhred deposed by the Common Council and Consent of his own Subjects Id. p. 230. Of Edwi confirmed by the Common Council of the Kingdom l. 5. p. 354. Sparsim Deprivation of Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc and for what l. 4. p. 193. Derawnde now called Beverley in Yorkshire l. 4. p. 202. Desertion he that deserts his Lord or Fellow-Soldier either by Land or Sea in an Expedition is deprived both of Life and Estate l. 6. p. 60. Devils-Ditch formerly divided the Mercian Kingdom from that of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 239. l. 5. p. 313. Devise of Lands by Will Vid. Testament Deusdedit the Pope grants Adrian the Abbot of Canterbury a Privilege concerning the free Election of the Abbot of that Monastery l. 4. p. 165. Deusdedit consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury and was the first English Monk that had ever been chosen Archbishop of that See and the first Bishop consecrated but by one he changed his Name to this having before been called Fridona or Fridon l. 4. p. 186. His Death Id. p. 189. Dicul an Irish or Scotch Monk that lived in a little Monastery at a place called Bosenham with five or six Brethren in great
Ethelbert sirnamed Praen begins to reign in Kent l. 4. p. 240. Hath his Eyes put out and his Hands cut off by the order of Cenwulf King of Mercia whither he is carried Prisoner Id. p. 241. Is set free before the High Altar being then a Prisoner of War upon the Dedication of the Abbey of Winchelcomb Id. p. 242. Eadbriht King of Kent his Death after he had reigned Six Years l. 4. p. 225. Eadburga Daughter to King Offa Marries Brithtrick King of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 235. Makes away her Husband by Poison designed indeed for one of his Favourites whom she could not endure Id. p. 243. Retires into France is put there into a Nunnery and why and being expelled thence for her Incontinency she begg'd her bread in Italy till she died l. 4. p. 243. A Law made upon her account That the King's Consort for the future should not be called Queen l. 5. p. 264. Eadesbyrig supposed by Mr. Cambden to be Edesbury in Cheshire where Aethelfleda Lady of the Mercians built a Castle l. 5. p. 316. Eadfrid a Son of King Edwin by his Wife Quenburga who was Daughter of Ceorle King of Mercia l. 4. p. 174. Surrenders up himself to Penda King of the Mercians Id. p. 176. Eadhed is Ordained Bishop in the Province of Lindisse and afterwards Governed the Church of Rippon l. 4. p. 196. Eadmund Etheling Son to King Edgar his Death and Burial at Rumsey in Hampshire l. 6. p. 7. Eadred or Ethelred King of the Mercians Marries Ethelfleda King Alfred's Eldest Daughter l. 5. p. 311. Vid. Ethelred Duke of Mercia Eadsige vid. Aeadsige Eadulf vid. Adulf Eadwig Etheling called Ceorle's Cyng that is King of the Clowns Brother to King Edward is Banished the whole story of him he is made Two Persons by the Annals l. 6. p. 50 51. Eadwin vid. Edwin Eagle the Roman Ensigns were in Caesar's time all Eagles l. 2. p. 26. Ealcher and his Kentish-men with Huda and his Surry-men fight with the Danish Army in the Isle of Thanet and the Success thereof l. 5. p. 261 262. Ealchstan Bishop of Scireborne and Prince Aethelbald join in a most wicked Conspiracy to remove Aethelwulf out of his Kingdom l. 5. p. 263. Ealerd a Daughter of King Edwin's by Queen Aethelburga l. 4. p. 176. Ealfert or Alfred King of the Northumbers his Decease l. 4. p. 213. Ealfric an Ealdorman and one of King Ethelred's Admirals who was to have encompass'd the Danish Fleet by surpise but underhand he betrays the design sending them notice to take care of themselves and the night before the intended Engagement goes over to them himself l. 6. p. 23 24. Several other Treacheries he plays as leaving the Army whereof he was General c. Id. p. 30. Ealswithe The Daughter of Aethelred Ealdorman of the Gaini is Married to King Alfred l. 5. p. 269 313. Her Children by him and her Decease Id. p. 310 311 313. Eanbald Consecrated Archbishop to the See of York on the Death of Ethelheard The Pall demanded for him of the Pope by Alwold King of the Northumbers l. 4. p. 232. Departs from the Northumbers and afterwards Consecrates and places on the Throne Eardwulf who had begun his Reign over Northumberland about a Month before Id. p. 240. His Death and Burial at York the Year after Id. p. 241. Another of the same Name upon his Decease was Consecrated Archbishop of York and the Year following he received the Pall Ibid. This Eanbald held the Second Council at Pinchinhale and what was done therein Id. p. 242. Eanbryht Bishop of Hagulstad his Decease l. 5. p. 248. Eanfrid or Earlfrid the Son of Ethelfrid the last King before Edwin Ruled the Kingdom of Bernicia and Abjured the Christian Religion which before he had Professed l. 4. p. 176. Is basely put to Death by Cadwallo when he imprudently came to him with only Twelve Select Knights in his Company to Treat of Peace Id. p. 177. Earcombert the First English King viz. of Kent who Commanded Idols to be destroyed and ordered Lent to be observed l. 4. p. 180. His Death and who succeeded him Id. p. 185 190. His Character Id. p. 189. Earcongath or Earcongata Daughter to Earcombert a Virgin of great Piety constantly serving God in a Monastery of the Kingdom of the Franks in the Town of Bruges in Flanders l. 4. p. 180. Eardulf succeeds Alfred or Ealfert in the Kingdom of the Northumbers but is expelled from it within Two Months by a Plot laid against him l. 4. p. 213. Eardwulf an Earl commanded to be put to death is found afterwards alive and after that made King of Northumberland Id. p. 236. When he began to Reign there and whom he succeeded Id. p. 240. Returns home Victorious by destroying the Rebels that rose up against him Id. p. 241. Leads an Army against Kenwulf King of Mercia for Harbouring his Enemies but by the Intercession of King Egbert a Peace is agreed on and confirmed by Oath l. 5. p. 248. About Three years after he is driven out of his Kingdom and by whom Ibid. p. 249. The Son of Eardulf the first King of that Name there restored to his Kingdom by the Assistance of the Emperor Charles the Great l. 5. p. 249. Earnred succeeds Aelfwold King of Northumberland l. 5. p. 249. Holds his Kingdom as Tributary to Egbert Chief King of the English who had grievously wasted it with his Arms Id. p. 248 255. His Death his Son succeeding him Id. p. 260. Earnwulf Charles the Gross King of the Franks his Brother's Son expels his Uncle his Kingdom dividing it into Five parts and each of the Kings to Govern under him l. 5.290 East-Angles the Countries we now call Norfolk and Suffolk the Kingdom of it supposed to begin about Anno 575. under Uffa the Eighth King from Woden l. 3. p. 145. The Gospel is preached to them by Furseus which Converted many of them l. 4. p. 180. The Kingdom thereof divided between Hunbeanna and Albert Id. p. 225. They slay Beornwulf King of the Mercians for Challenging this Kingdom as his own l. 5. p. 253. Edmund their King fighting with the Danes they obtain the Victory kill him and wholly Conquer that Kingdom Id. p. 269 272 273 274. Their Subjection and Freedom from the Danish Yoke Id. p. 322 Easter it 's Observation according to the manner prescribed in the Council of Nice l. 2. p. 88. l. 4. p. 166. The Difference about the Rule of keeping it in Augustin's time l. 4. p. 160 161. How it was observed by Bishop Aidan Id. p. 177. Is Commanded to be kept according to the Order of the Church of Rome Id. p. 189. Appointed by the Synod at Hartford in Anno 673. to be kept on the First Lord's Day after the Fourteenth Moon of the First Month that is January this was a General Council of the whole Kingdom Id. p. 193. Aldhelm Abbot of Malmesbury wrote an excellent Book about the Keeping of Easter
Egbert King of the West-Saxons and Beornwulf King of the Mercians the latter being beaten l. 5. p. 253. Both Town and County take their names from the River Willie Id. p. 276. Wiltshire-men gain the Victory over the Worcestershire-men or Mercians l. 5. p. 247. Wina Vid. Wini. Winandermere anciently called Wonwaldermere a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire l. 4. p. 236. Winchelcomb a Monastery in Gloucestershire for Three hundred Benedictine Monks founded by Kenwulf King of the Mercians and its Consecration l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 251. Kenelm his Son martyr'd by his Sistâ—r Quendride after his Body was found was brought hither and buried in the Church of this Abbey l. 5. p. 252. Winchester anciently called Caer-Guent by whom it is first pretended to be built l. 1. p. 10. The Old Church there commanded to be built by King Cenwall l. 4. p. 181. The Bishoprick is resigned by Daniel by reason of his Old Age to Hunferth Id. p. 224. Is taken from King Ethelbert by the Danes l. 5. p. 266. The Consecration of the New Monastery here l. 5. p. 312. A Great Council held here concerning the turning out of the Monks l. 6. p. 16. Winchester-Measure to be the Standard l. 6. p. 14. Winfrid Bishop of the Mercians deposed by Archbishop Theodore and why l. 4. p. 194. Wini or Wina made Bishop of the West-Saxons and the Province being divided into two Diocesses he is settled in that of Winchester l. 4. p. 182 188. But being driven from his See by King Kenwalch goes and purchases the See of London of King Wulfher The First Example of Simony here Id. p. 191. Wipha or Wippa the Son of Cryda succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of the Mercians l. 3. p. 148. Wir a River in the Bishoprick of Durham l. 4. p. 194. Wiregild is a satisfaction made by a Murtherer to the Friends of the Party slain l. 4. p. 211. The Valuation of a Man's Head l. 5. p. 341. Wiremouth a Monastery built by Abbot Benedict l. 4. p. 194 205. Witchcraft King Athelstan's Law against it l. 5. p. 340. Wite a Fine or Mulct to be paid by the English and Danes upon the violating of their Laws l. 5. p. 284 285. Witena-Gemote their large Authority not only in assenting to new Laws but in their Judicial Power in giving Judgments upâ—n all Suits or Complaints brought before them as well in Appeals between Subject and Subject as when the King himself was a Party l. 6. p. 83. It outlaws and convicts Earl Aelfgar upon a Charge of being a Traytor to the King and the whole Nation Id. p. 86. Witerne a Bishopriâ—k called in Latin Candida Casa belonging to the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 4. p. 201 231. St. Withburg her Body found at Durham entire and uncorrupt after she had been Fifty five years buried l. 4. p. 242. Withgar Nephew to King Cerdick with Stufe put the Britains to flight l. 3. p. 135. His Death and Burial at Withgarasbyrig supposed Caresbrook-Castle in the Isle of Wight Id. p. 138. His Constitutions of the Church confirmed in the Synod called by Archbishop Ethelheard l. 4. p. 241. He and Stufe first Princes of the Isle of Wight l. 5. p. 261. Withlaff an Ealdorman of Mercia created King by the Consent of all the People l. 5. p. 253. Reigns Thirteen Years as Tributary to King Egbert Id. p. 254. Is expelled and upon what account where he lay concealed till he procured Egbert's Reconciliation upon which he was restored paying a Yearly Tribute Ib. Ib. The Privileges and Concessions of this King to the Monastery of Croyland confirmed in a General Council held at London and who were present in it Id. p. 257. His Decease and who succeeded him Id. p. 259. Withred by his Piety and Industry freed Kent from Foreign Invasions l. 4. p. 205. King of Kent elected by the General Consent of his Subjects and held it thirty years l. 4. p. 209. Holds a great Council at Becancelde and who were there present and what was transacted Id. p. 210. Another at Berkhamsted in Kent and what Laws were made there Id. p. 211. His Death His Children and Character Id. p. 218. Wittereden signifies a certain Fine or Forfeiture l. 5. p. 262. Woden King of a City in Asia called Asgard dies in Swedeland counted a great Magician and after his Death is worshipped as a God l. 3. p. 121. Brought back the Goths out of Asia into Europe Ib. p. 122. Wodensbeorge now Wodensburg a little Village in Wiltshire l. 3. p. 148. Wolves a Tribute of so many Wolves Heads to be paid to King Edgar instead of that in Money for his concluding a Peace with North-Wales l. 6. p. 4. Woodstock in Mercia where King Ethelred made several Excellent Laws with the Assistance of his Great Council l. 6. p. 42 43. Worcester anciently was called Vectij l. 4. p. 160 230. Bofel being ordained Bishop of the Wiâ—ij had his See here Id. p. 199 200. The First Bishop hereof was Talfride a Learned Monk but he died before Ordination Id. p. 200. Thiâ— Church was first founded by Athelred King of the Mercians Id. Ib. The City plunder'd and burnt and the Countrey wasted by Hardecnute and why l. 6. p. 67. The Shire anciently called Wicon l. 4. p. 242. l. 5. p. 247. Wounds and Maims King Alfred's Law concerning them l. 5. p. 296. Wulfheard an Ealdorman at Southampton fights 33 Danish Pyrates and makes there a terrible slaughter of them Id. p 258. Wulfhelme consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury l. 5. p. 329. His Decease and who succeeds him Id. p. 333. Wulfher succeeds his Brother Peadda and greatly enriches the Abbey of Medeshamsted with Lands and other Endowments l. 4. p. 186 187. Is proclaimed King by the Ealdormen of Mercia takes the Isle of Wight with the Countrey of the Meanvari Id. p. 188. Fights with Aescwin at Bedanheafde Id. p. 195. Concerning his Baptism and the ridiculous story of his murthering his two Sons with his own hands as also his Death Id. Ib. Wulfher Archbishop of York is expelled by the Northumbers but restored to it the next year after l. 5. p. 277. His Decease Id. p. 299. Wulfnoth Father of Earl Godwin being impeached before King Ethelred and escaping and running away with some of his Ships turns Pyrate and does a world of mischief by burning the rest of the Fleet that had escaped Shipwreck l. 6. p. 33. Wulfric Vid. Spot Wulstan is wickedly slain by his Cousin Berthferth Son of Bertwulf King of Mercia and his Body buried at the Monastery of Rependun in Derbyshire l. 5. p. 261. Wulstan Archbishop of York is made a close Prisoner at Witharbyrig by King Edred and for what but because of his Function he is afterwards pardoned and restored l. 5. p. 350. His Decease Id. p. 355. Wulstan Archbishop of York consecrates Ethelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury Bishop l. 6. p. 51. His Decease and who succeeds him Id. p.
Books into which I have divided this Volume I will now proceed to acquaint you with the rest of my Authors from whom I have collected it nor will I give you only their Names which has been done by so many already but a brief Censure of them and their Works and in what Time they wrote being such as lived either before or after the Conquest Of the former sort there are but few since from Bede to Asser. Menev. there flourish'd no general Historian for William of Malmsbury himself confesses that after Bede all liberal Studies more and more declining those that followed spent their Lives in Idleness or Silence yet during even that Period there were some Writers of this kind viz. certain Monks in the greater Monasteries whose business it was to set down in short by way of Annals the most remarkable Passages of their own Times in their own Language nay Learning was in that King's Reign fallen to so low an Ebb that even King Alfred tells us in his Preface to the Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral That in the beginning of his Reign there were few on this side Humber who could understand their own Prayers much less turn a piece of Latin into English and where then were our supposed flourishing Vniversities AND I shall here begin with Asserius Menevensis who was so called because he was a Monk of Menevia or St. Davids This was he who being sent for by King Alfred out of Wales assisted him in his Studies and besides taught his Children and others of the Nobility Latin after this King Alfred sent him with others to fetch Grimbald out of Flanders into England and after the Schools were opened at Oxford the latter there professed Divinity and the former Grammar and Rhetorick as you may find in the Annals of Hyde cited in the ensuing History THIS Monk being Learned above the Age in which he lived first wrote the Annals that go under his Name which having long continued in the Cottonian and other Libraries in Manuscript have been lately published by the Learned Dr. Gale in his last Volume of Historians printed at Oxon. After these Annals it is certain Asser also wrote the whole History of King Alfred's Life under the Title of de Gestis Regis Aelfredi which were first published by the Reverend Arch-bishop Parker in Saxon Characters according to the Copy now in the Cottonian Library and was also again put out by Mr. Camden in another Edition at Frankford But it must be confessed there is some difference between these two Copies concerning the Vniversity of Oxford which is taken notice of in this Work in its proper Place but that the Annals abovementioned were written before his History of King Alfred's Life is plain for he there refers you to those Annals which he has also inserted in the Life almost word for word But tho the former of these is continued to the Death of King Alfred and the latter as far as the 14th Year of the Reign of K. Edward the Elder yet it is evident that he himself wrote neither the one nor the other after the Year 893 being the 45th of King Alfred's Age and this appears from the Life it self in which the Author particularly mentions it nor could he extend the Annals any farther because they were written before he wrote the Life This I observe to let the Reader understand that whatever he finds farther in the Annals or Life the Substance of both which I have given him in this Volume were continued by some other Hand and as for the Annals they sufficiently declare it for towards the latter end under Anno Dom. 909. you may meet with this Passage hoc Anno Asserius Episcopus Scireburnensis obiit which was no other than our Author himself yet this must be farther observed of him that he was so extreamly negligent in his Account of Time that he begins the first Year of King Alfred's Reign sometimes at one Year of our Lord and sometimes at another so that no Man can tell by him when it commenced BVT why he left off Writing so many Years before King Alfred died and never finish'd his Life though he survived him nine Years I confess I know not unless being preferred about the Time when he had finish'd it to the Bishoprick of Shireburne he left the King's Service and going to reside at his own See had other Business on his Hands than Writing And that the same Asser who taught King Alfred was also by him made Bishop of Shireburne appears from this King's Preface to the Saxon Translation of St. Gregorie's Pastoral in which he tells you he was assisted by Plegmund his Archbishop and Asser his Bishop to whom the said King in his Will after the Archbishop and some other Bishops bequeathed a 100 Marks by the Title of Asser Bishop of Shireburne from whence it is manifest that the same Person who was King Alfred's Instructor was also Bishop of Shireburne which Bishoprick was certainly bestowed on him after he had done Writing since tho he mentions the Abbeys of Banwell Ambresbury and Exceter to have been bestowed upon him by the King yet he is utterly silent of his being made Bishop which he would not surely have omitted if he had been then so preferred but how long he held this Bishoprick we can say little positively because we do not find when it was first given him but as for the time of his Death not only the Annals that go under his Name but the Saxon Chronicle also places it under Anno 909. So that I think there can be no reasonable cause to doubt of that BVT what should lead such a careful Chronographer as Florence of Worcester into so great a Mistake as to place this Bishop's Death under Anno 883 I know not unless he had some other Copies of the Saxon Annals by him than are now extant but the Fasti of the Saxon Kings and Bishops publish'd by Sir H. Savil at the end of William of Malmesbury and other Writers are guilty of the like Mistake making this Asser to have succeeded Sighelm Bishop of Shireburn and to have died Anno 883 whereas it appears from our Annals that Sighelm whom William of Malmesbury makes to be the same Person with the Bishop abovementioned this very Year carried King Alfred's Alms to Rome and afterwards went himself as far as India however this Mistake of Florence as also the pretended Authority of our Welsh Chronicle hath as I suppose led divers other Learned Men and particularly Bishop Godwin and Arch-bishop Usher into a Belief of two Assers both Bishops the one of whom died Anno 883 and the other to have been Arch-bishop of St. Davids and to have succeeded Novis who according to the Chronicle of that Church publish'd in the 2d Volume of Anglia Sacra died Anno 872 and there immediately follows under Anno 909 Asserius Episcopus Britanniae fit which must certainly be an Errour in
Officers called ab Actis who were Publick Notaries that wrote Testaments Contracts and other Instruments which were signed before by the Judg or President and attested by him that so after the Death of the Party they might remain Authentick then other Clerks or Secretaries de Curâ or de Curâ Epistolarum who wrote and sent the Letters and Dispatches of the Governours of Provinces to the Emperor or to each other BESIDES whom the Vicarius himself and I suppose also each of the Presidents had his Adjutorem i. e. his Coadjutor in case of Sickness or necessary Absence as likewise Subadjuvas Under-Assistants or Assistants to the Adjutor and in short certain other Officers called Singulares from the particular Civil Imployments they had who seem'd to have been Prosecutors Informers or Serjeants not to mention others of more inferiour Rank as Apparitors Summoners or Messengers This was the Civil Court of the Vicarius or Deputy of Britain under the Praefectus Praetorii of Gaul who had the Power to reverse his Judgments and Decrees THE Ensigns of his Government were a Draught of those Five Parts of Britain before-mentioned expressed in the Forms of several Buildings with the Superscription of their Names placed on the Triangular Form of the Island as if they had compâ—ehended the whole Island the Book of their Instructions covered with Green and the Commission in a gilt Cover with several Letters inscribed on the Book the Signification of which is unnecessary to be here inserted but you will find this as also a Draught of these Insignia themselves in the above-cited Pancirollus BESIDES these general Presidents there were likewise Courts in all the great Cities Municipia or Colonies of each Province which had their several Officers and Magistrates according to the Model of Rome it self who heard Causes and administred Justice to the particular Districts belonging to them much after the same manner as the Parliaments in France do at this day HAVING thus concluded their Civil Administration we now come to the Military which was executed by Three Chief Officers under the Magister Militum of the West and they were these viz. the Comes Britanniarum Comes Littoris Saxonici and the Dux Britanniarum whose several Charges and the Tracts subjected to each of their Commands may be best discerned by the Names of those Towns where their Under-Officers and Forces are said to have had their Head-quarters The first of these viz. the Count of Britain is thought to have had his Command over the Inward or Middle Part of the Island because the two others are known to have had theirs over the Northern or Maritime Parts thereof but the Notitia assigns not any Forces to the former nor mentions any Places under his Command because as Pancirollus writes the whole Island was then almost over-run by Barbarians BUT as for the Comes Littoris Saxonici so called in the Declension of the Roman Empire from the charge or Care he had to suppress the Saxon Pirates who often landing on the Eastern Parts of Britain lying over against Germany committed great Ravages there he had eight Praepositi and one Tribune under him that were Leaders of divers Cohorts consisting of Gauls Germans and other Foreign Nations who quartered in several Towns all along the Coasts from Sussex as far as the remotest part of Norfolk for the Names of whom with the Places where they lay I shall refer you to the Notitia Imperii Occidentalis or if you had rather have them in English to Mr. Selden's Titles of Honour and Dr. Howell's second Part and third Chapter of his General History THE like I may also say of the Forces under the Dux Britanniarum or General of Britain whose Army had it then been really in being was sufficient to have suppressed both the Picts and Scots for they consisted of no less than fourteen Praefects or Praepositi of Horse and Foot whose Names and Places where they quartered extending from Lincolnshire through all the Northern Counties as far as the Pictish Borders and so round about by Lancashire into North-Wales you may find in the Authors abovementioned BUT as for the several Ensigns of these three chief Military Officers they being much what the same with those of the Vicarius Britanniae viz. The Figures of certain Towns with their Names set over them together with their Commissions contained in Books of different coloured Covers with the Emperor's Images set by them on Pillars I will leave it to those who take more Pleasure than I do in such Curiosities ALL these Comites and Duces were equal in Power and only subordinate to the Vicarius Britanniae the Forces under their Command were not only dispersed through the Municipia or Free Colonies which the Romans planted here and were governed by their own Civil Magistrates in Imitation of Rome their Mother-City but were also garison'd in divers Towns Castles and Forts all along the Roman Limits thereby to discover the Motions of the Neighbouring Nations several of which being intended only at first for their Military Camps by degrees grew up into Cities and are known at this day by the Name of Chesters such as are West-Chester on the River Dee Portchester in Hampshire now destroyed Chester in the Street in Northumberland with several others of less note near the Picts Wall as also in the Inland Parts of England ending in the word Cester as Leicester Cirencester c. all which owe their Original to the Latin Name Castra HAVING now dispatched the British and Roman Polity I come to the main part of Design which is to give a brief Account of the Civil Government that the English Saxons established in this part of our Island which they called England who consisting of several Tribes or Nations inhabiting different Countries yet all speaking the same Language came over hither at several Times under their particular Leaders and as soon as they had expelled the Britains they did within the space of about a hundred Years erect seven distinct Kingdoms though not of equal Extent the Names of which notwithstanding they are set down in the History it self yet having not given you the particular Catalogue of the several Counties they contained because their Dominions were not then divided into those Districts as they were afterwards I have reserved to this place THE first Kingdom being that of Kent consisted only of that County and Surrey THE second viz. that of the South-Saxons contained Sussex and Surrey or at least great part of it THE third was the Kingdom of the West-Saxons and contained Devonshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Berkshire But as for that Countrey called Cornwall I shall not reckon it here because it was for a long Time after governed by its own Princes and not brought under the West-Saxon Dominion till long after THE fourth was that of the East-Saxons which contained Essex Middlesex and part of Hertfordshire THE fifth was that
SAXONUM paritèr ELIGIMVS Benedictionum tuarum Dona multiplica as also what follows in the same Chapter in the Blessing after the Coronation in giving him the Scepter Benedic Domine hunc PRE-ELECTVM Principem qui Regna omnium Regum à saeculo moderaris Amen NOW from both these Places above quoted we may safely conclude that an Election did most commonly precede the Coronation of our English Saxon Kings which I think is made so evident by these Authorities that it needs no farther Enlargement nor should I trouble my self about it were it not to expose the Obstinacy of some Men as well as to continue the Series of this Succession which perhaps would seem lame to others without it down to the Conquest TO go on therefore where we left off after the Death of King Ethelred the Saxon Annals tell us that Omnes Proceres qui in Londonia erant Cives eligerunt Eadmundum in Regem i. e. All the Chief Men or Witan as it is in the Saxon i. e. Wise Men that were at London and the Citizens chose Edmund for their King and yet he was his Father's eldest Son tho whether Legitimate or not is uncertain for we do not find any antient Author till after the Conquest that mentions Ethelred's being married to the Mother of this Prince and if he was not this Son of his could have no other Title but Election This is also confirmed by Ingulph who says Cui Ethelredo successit in Regnum Londonensium West-Saxonum Electione Filius ejus primogenitus Edmundus c. i. e. Edmund his eldest Son succeeded his Father Ethelred by the Election of the Londoners and West-Saxons in the Kingdom BUT tho our Saxon Annals are silent of it yet an Antient Manuscript Chronicle wrote about the Time of the Conquest now in the Cottonian Library relates that about the same Time that King Edmund was thus Elected Episcopi Abbates quique Nobiliores Angliae Canutum in Regem eligere the Bishops Abbots and several of the Chief Men of England chose Cnute for their King which is also confirmed by Florence of Worcester in these words under this very Year Post cujus mortem maxima pars Regni tà m Clericorum quà m Laicorum in unum congregati pari consensu Cnutonem in Regem eligerunt ad eum Suthamptoniam veniens pacem cum eo pepigerunt fidelitatem jurabant i. e. after whose Death viz. of King Ethelred the greatest part of the Kingdom as well of the Clergy as Laity being met together chose Cnute for their King and coming to Southampton made Peace with him and swore Fidelity but he there says nothing of his Coronation THESE Testimonies concerning Ethelred and Edmund being thus plain I confess Dr. Brady has been so just as to cite them and fairly to translate that Passage in Ingulph by the word Election whereas it should have been Recognition if it had suited with his Hypothesis as he does also that of Florence of Worcester rendring the word Eligerunt by chose him King if therefore it were a true Election in one case then surely it must be so in the other for the same Reason BUT the nameless Author of the Great Point of Succession discuss'd tho he does wilfully conceal all the printed Authorities above mentioned yet being hard press'd with this Passage of King Cnute has no other way to evade it but by saying That Canutus by the Terror of his Arms having the greatest part of the Island at his Devotion forced them to acknowledg and receive him for their King which they being under an apparent Force could not refuse to do THE falseness of which Assertion I will not go about to prove in this Place but refer the Reader to the ensuing History where he will find that the Persons abovemention'd were not so forced by the Terror of his Arms as to acknowledg him for their King since London then as still the Capital City of the Nation with many others of the Nobility had before Chosen King Edmund who by their Assistance was strong enough immediately after his Election to fight the Danes at the great Battel at Assendune and therefore if voluntarily yet it was treacherously done of them to quit the Prince who ought to have been Elected and to choose a Stranger and an Invader over his Head and whether the Gentleman this Author writes against had ridiculously called King Cnute's Accession to the Throne an Election as he would have it I shall leave to the impartial Reader 's Judgment AFTER the Death of King Cnute our Annals relate that at a Witena-Gemot or Great Council being held at Oxford Leofricus Comes omnes propè Thani à Boreali parte Thamisis Nautae de Lundonia eligerunt Haroldum in Regem totius Angliae dum ejus Frater Hardcnutus esset in Denmearcia i.e. Leofric the Earl and almost all the Thanes North of the Thames and the Sea-men of London chose Harold King of all England whilst his Brother Hardecnute was in Denmark which is also confirmed by Ingulph and William of Malmesbury who farther report That the English had a Mind to chuse Edward the Son of Ethelred or at least Hardecnute the Son of Cnute by Emme his Wife the Widow of King Ethelred who was then in Denmark BUT Henry of Huntington says expresly Haroldus filius Cnuti in Regem Electus est But Radulphus de Diceto is yet more express as to this Election of Harold as appears by this Passage under An. 1038. Haroldus Rex Merciorum Northymbrorum ut per totam regnaret Angliam à Principibus omni Populo Eligitur i. e. Harold King of the Mercians and Northumbers that he might reign over all England is Chosen by the chief Men and all the People whence you may observe that tho he were then King of the Mercians and Northumbers yet that still needed a new Election to make him King of all England NOW if this were so as the Doctor himself has ingenuously cited it in his said Treatise I desire he would let us know where was then the Right of Lineal Succession when the People of England would fain have chosen Edward who could not be Right Heir of the Crown so long as the Children of his Elder Brother were alive tho then in Exile nor could Hardecnute have any Right so long as Harold his Elder Brother was alive whom also as our Historians relate his Father had appointed Successor at his Death tho whether that be true or no is much to be doubted BUT the Author of the aforementioned Great Point of Succession c. to evade this Proof of Harold's Election will have all this Point in Controversy to have been who had the most Right and best Title to the Crown of those two Harold or Hardecnute and that Earl Godwin objected Harold's Illegitimacy and the Will of the deceased King of all which there is not one word mentioned in any of our most
whilst by others it was turned into a C which if added to the following Figures viz. XXXII make CXXXII but with an L. before them they make only LXXXII Miles as they are indeed no more But to conclude this Subject on which I doubt we have dwelt too long already if Buchanan had not desired to have been singular and to have differed not only from our English Authors but from his own Country-men John Fordun and Major who in their Histories of Scotland are both of our side he had never fallen into this Mistake Whilst this Peace with the Northern Britains lasted it may well be supposed that remarkable Meeting between the Empress Julia the Wife of Severus and the Wife of Argentocoxus a British King might have happened wherein the Empress upbraiding the British Ladies that they lay with so many Men promiscuously according to their Custom of one Woman's having several Husbands as hath been already related The British Lady made her this quick Return We British Women do much better satisfie the Desires of Nature than you Roman Ladies for we have to do only with the best Men and that openly whilst you commit Adulteries with every mean Fellow in a corner A sharp Reproof though no good Excuse for her Country-women But no sooner was Severus returned into the Roman Province but the Caledonians and Maeatae again took Arms which so incensed the old Emperor that calling his Soldiers together he commanded them repeating a Verse of Homer That they should enter the Country and kill all they met both Men Women and Children but being now worn out with Years and Infirmities he could not go himself but sent Bassianus his Son against them yet whether he did any thing considerable is uncertain since Severus died not long after Whose End whether it was hastened by his Son 's wicked Practices or whether he died of meet Age or Sickness is not truly known since Historians differ much about it but before he died he is said to have spoke thus to his two Sons Bassianus and Geta See that you agree between your selves and pay your Soldiers and then you need care for no body else A notable Maxim which hath been observed not only by them but by all who are or desire to be absolute Monarchs He is likewise said by Spartianus to have rejoyced before his Death that he left the Empire to his Sons according to the Example of Antoninus Pius who left the two Antonini his Sons by Adoption his Heirs whereas he had left two Sons gotten by himself Rulers of the Roman Commonwealth But he was deceived in his Expectation for the one by the Parricide of his Brother the other by his own evil Manners were soon destroyed and to expect otherwise shew'd him not to have been so Prudent in that as in his other Actions Upon which the Author last cited in his Life of this Prince makes this shrewd Observation That scarce any great Men had left behind them a Son good for any thing but either they have had no Children or else such that it had been better for Mankind if they had died without any at all This Author also makes him to have further spoke these as his last Words I received the Commonwealth every where disturbed but leave it even as far as Britain in Peace a firm and stable Empire to my Antonines if they prove Virtuous but if otherwise a weak one Dion tells us That his Corps being carried out in great Pomp and laid upon the Funeral Pile without the Walls of York at a place called to this day Sever's Hoe or Sever's Hill the Souldiers rid round it on Horse-back full speed whilst it was burning his own Sons having first kindled the Fire Herodian gives us a long Description of his Funeral Pile and of the manner of burning the Body of a Roman Emperour which being too tedious to be here recited those who are desirous of reading the Description of this Spectacle may find it at large in this Author His Bones being put in an Urn of Porphiry were carried by his Sons to Rome and placed in the Sepulchre of the Antonines It is also said by Dion That Severus a little before his Death commanded this Urn to be brought to him and holding it in his hand to have spoke thus Must thou hold him whom the whole World could not contain Severus is described by this Author to have been in his old age Corpulent but of a strong Constitution thô much afflicted with the Gout of a sharp and excellent Wit a Lover of good Letters in which thô he was a sufficient Master yet was more able to express it by Writing than Words grateful towards his Friends most cruel to his Enemies diligent in Affairs but careless of what Men said of him greedy of Money which he gathered by all means yet for that cause alone he never put any Man to Death He was magnificent in his publick Expences and built many new Edifices and repaired the old ones so that thô he spent vastly yet he left a great Treasure behind him But to add somewhat farther from others he was a great Enemy to Incontinence and Adultery and made strict Laws against it and had certainly as great a mixture of good and evil Qualities as ever were found in any one Man That he was both Perfidious and Cruel appears by his Dealing with Albinus as also with the Wife and Children of Niger whom thô innocent he caused to be put to Death whilst his own Son who had attempted upon his Life and Empire he easily Pardoned which whether he did out of Love to him or weariness of Life as sated with Honour and Power may be doubted and if he had been then a young Man perhaps he would have acted otherwise I have insisted the longer upon the Character of this Prince as being one of the greatest and most fortunate of all the Roman Emperours But having given you an account of the last Words and Actions of Severus in Britain I cannot but here take notice of a notorious Falshood in Geoffery of Monmouth in this part of his History and whereby you may judge of his Skill in the Roman History and I shall give it you in the Words of a Learned Bishop Geoffery having found that Severus the Emperour died in Britain thought it most for the Honour of our Country to kill him fairly in Battle and therefore by power of Fancy he creates one Fulgentius to be General against him who being overpowered here at home went and fetched in the Picts out of Scythia and with their Aid fought Severus and killed him and was killed together for Company All which was Geoffery's own proper Invention And then having found that Severus left a Son Bassianus that was his Successor in the Roman Empire he makes his Britains set up this Bassianus to be their King on his Mother's account who must be the Sister of Fulgenius
then having found that Britain was Governed by Carausius some time after thô he knew not when putting both these together he makes the fore-mentioned Emperour Bassianus being betrayed by the Picts that came in with his Uncle Fulgenius to be killed in Fight by this Carausius thô there was a distance of some 70 Years between them But that was nothing with Geoffery he writ I dare say what might be true for ought he knew nor has Geoffery erred alone but hath also led John Fordun and Hector Boethius the Scotch Historians into the same Error who as the said Learned Bishop observes make this Fulgenius whom they call a British Consul his Name a little altered into Fulgentius to have headed the Scots and Picts in this War with Severus But I need say no more of this for Geoffery being once exposed as he deserves those that write from him will need no other Confutation After the Death of Severus his Sons Bassianus and Geta having before taken the Sirname of Antonini succeeded in the Empire and althô the Elder pretended to hold it in common with his Brother yet he presently began to Reign alone soon ending the War with the Britains and relinquishing the Garisons not long after left this Island together with his Brother Geta with whom when he had some Quarrels Julia the Empress together with their Friends and Councellors patched up a Reconciliation between them which was only in outward Appearance and more by Constraint than Good Will So both of them enjoying the like Imperial Honours passed into Italy leaving Virius Lupus as their Lieutenant in Britain but as soon as they came to Rome their Hatred to each other breaking out afresh Bassianus coming into his Brother Geta's Bed-chamber when he looked for no such thing cruelly murdered him in his Mother's Arms and then bestowing a great Donative upon the Souldiers to gain their Good Wills was alone declared Emperour and his Brother Geta condemned as an Enemy as having conspired against him But one thing is very remarkable That when he had committed this Parricide he would have had Papinian the great Civil Lawyer to have wrote a Defence of it but he like an honest Roman utterly refused it plainly telling him That it was easier to commit Parricide than to defend it when it was committed But this plain Answer cost him his Life the Emperour commanding his Soldiers to kill him in his Presence which one of them doing with an Axe the Emperour chid him for it saying That he ought to have performed his Commands with a Sword The Reign of Antoninus Bâ—ssianus Caracalla affords us nothing transacted in this Island only that after the Death of his Bother Geta he commanded his Name to be razed out of all Monuments which was accordingly observed in Britain as appears by an Inscription dug out of the Earth in Monmouthshire which was erected for the Safety of the then Emperor Severus and Antoninus and Geta Caesars wherein the Name of Geta by the tract of Letters may be discovered to have once been there though now razed out The like is to be seen in another Stone mentioned by Camden in Richmondshire The Emperor Caracalla so called from a Military Cloak he wore being made away by Opilius Macrinus who was then Praefectus Praetorii and succeeded him being chosen Emperor by the Army in his Reign as likewise of many other of his Successors We find no mention made of Britain whether it were that the Empire declining apace good Authors grew scarce or are now lost or which is more probable that the succeeding Princes being advanced by the heady Affection of the Soldiers and quickly again deposed and murthered had no time to perform any thing considerable in this Island lying so remote Hence it is that for some years we are left in the dark having only a few Fragments left us lying scatter'd here and there in divers Authors which give us just Light enough to discover that Britain as yet continued a Roman Province and still had its Proprâ—tors and Presidents Nay Geoffery himself hath here left wide Gaps and Interregnums for many years together So that if we would we could not piece up a History of these Times even out of his Romances and were it not undecent to leave so great a Breach in the midst of this History many of the following Emperor's Names might be spâ—red But however we will give you the following Emperors in the order they stand in the Roman Histories we have left us To Opilius Maâ—rinus succeeded Anton. Heliogabolus being as the Soldiers falsely believed a Bastard Son of Bassianus Caracalla but this Monster after three Years Reign was killed by the Pretorian Bands and Alexander Severus his Cousin-German succeeded him having been before declared Caesar by the Senate It is thought by some that he made an Expedition into Britain for Lampridius says he was slain in a Town called Sicila but whether it were in Britain or Gaul he leaves it uncertain howbeit somewhat we find in the same Author of his Actions in this Island That he first gave unto the Captains and Soldiers near the Marshes or Wall of Severus those Lands which were won from the Enemy so that they should be their Propriety so long as their Heirs served as Soldiers and that they should not revert to private Men supposing they would go to the Wars more willingly and take better Care to defend their own peculiar Possessions From whence as Mr. Camden very well notes may be deduced either a kind of Feudum or Fee or at least the the first Foot-steps we can find of Military Feuds which were afterwards so much in use amongst the Goths and those Nations derived from them as the Normans and others The same Author also adds that before his Death a Druid Woman cry'd out to him in the Gaulish Tongue Go on but hope not for Victory and trust not thy Soldiers A good Advice if he could have taken it for he Was slain by some of his own Army at the Instigation of Maximin who succeeded him The true cause of his Death was that the Soldiers grown loose under Heliogabolus could not endure the Severity of his Discipline so that though he were one of the best and most virtuous Emperors that ever govern'd yet he found the same Fate from his Soldiers as the worst had done In so sad a Condition are those Monarchs whose Lives or Deaths depend upon the good or bad Humours of a standing Army The place of his Death is uncertain for St. Hierom and Orosius suppose him to have been killed at Mentz by the Conspiracy of his Soldiers together with his Mother whose covetouseness was a great cause of his Ruin Julius Maximinus succeeded him who was as wicked and cruel as his Predecessor was good and gentle he being condemn'd by the Senate was slain by the Soldiers but before his Death the two Gordiani Father and
any other Writer and the Age also being become very Corrupt and Ignorant during the frequent Wars and Revolutions that happen'd in this part of the Island It is not to be expected that we should be able to set down the Names of any Bishops or others Remarkable in this last Age for Piety or Learning So having given as good an Account as I am able and as the broken History of those Times will allow of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire in Britain and the State of Affairs as well Ecclesiastical as Civil during the space of near 490 Years that the Romans had to do here I shall in the next Book give you a Prospect of the lamentable State of this part of Britain after the departure of the Romans and that the Britains had set up Princes of their own Nation The End of the Second Book THE General History OF BRITAIN NOW CALLED ENGLAND As well Ecclesiastical as Civil BOOK III. From its Desertion by the Romans to the Preaching of Christianity by AUGUSTINE the Monk being One hundred Sixty two Years BEING now come to the Third Period of this First Volume it is fit we say somewhat by way of Introduction before so great a Change as you will here find to have followed the Desertion of Britain by the Romans For with the Roman Empire fell also what before were chiefly Roman Learning Valour Eloquence and Civility and consequently History too which is but the Product of these all which at first encreasing by means of the Roman Power and Encouragement did also diminish and decline upon its Departure till it was at last quite extinct by the coming in of the Pagan Saxons and the long cruel Wars they made upon the Britains as you may observe from the barbarous Latin of Gildas and Nennius which are the only Authentick British Historians that are now extant As for the English Saxons they were at first so illiterate that it is much doubted whether they had the use of Letters and Writing among them or not since we have no Histories or Annals of their Times elder than their receiving Christianity for thô there are some few Stones to be found in England inscribed with the ancient Runick Characters as appears from the late English Edition of Mr. Camden's Britannia yet that they are wholly Danish Monuments and made after the time of their Conversion I need only refer you to the Inscriptions themselves as they are to be found in the said Britannia with the Additions that follow it so that it ought not to seem strange that the Saxon Annals are so short and obscure in many places and that the Relations of Things done before the entrance of Christianity among them are contradictory to each other in point of Time and other Circumstances since they were only delivered by Memory and Tradition which must be acknowledged for a very uncertain Guide in Matters of Fact as well as of Doctrine Nor is this Uncertainty to be found only in the Saxon Chronicles but also in those of the Britains of that Age since from the Reign of King Vortigern to that of Cadwalladar is indeed the darkest and most confused part of all the British or Welsh History Hence it is that we are forced in this Period not only to make use of Authors who lived long after the Things they treat of were done but also are otherwise of no great Credit such as Nennius and Geoffery of Monmouth whom we sometimes make use of for want of those of better Authority As for the English Saxon History we have nothing more ancient than Bede and the Saxon Chronicle which we shall here give you almost entire since it seems to be writ faithfully as far as it goes yet being only Annals extracted out of Bede as far as he goes they barely relate the Succession of their Kings with their chief Wars and Actions without expressing the Grounds or Causes of either or giving us any Account of their particular Laws and original Constitutions so that I confess they cannot prove so Instructive to Humane Life as is required of a just History Britain being thus deserted by the Romans as you have seen in the last Book with an intention to return no more and having caused the Britains to rebuild the Wall in the manner already related the Scots and Picts thô in Manners differing from each other yet still unanimous to rob and spoil hearing that the Roman Forces were withdrawn landed in Shoals out of their Curroghs or Leathern Vessels in which they passed over that part of the Irish Sea which lying next Britain is called by Gildas The Scythic Vale these upon the Assurance that the Romans would never return becoming more bold than ever took possession of all the Northern Parts even from the outmost Bounds of the Land as far as the Wall already mentioned in the mean time the Guards which were placed upon it to defend it being cowardly in Fight and unable to fly stood trembling on the Battlements keeping their Stations day and night to little or no purpose whilst the Enemy from below with long Hooks pluck'd them down and dashed them against the Ground thus preventing by a speedy Death those languishing Torments which attended their Country-men and Relations In short both the Wall and the Towns adjoyning to it being deserted the Inhabitants saved themselves by flight which yet could not long secure them for the Enemy pursuing them a fresh Slaughter quickly followed more bloody than the former and which was worse than all the rest being tormented with Famine to get Subsistence they fell upon and robbed each other for they who came from the North as may probably be supposed and had fled from the Enemy being unable to pay for their Quarters when they came into the Southern Parts seized what they could find from whence rose Discords and Quarrels among them and thence Civil Wars for this Nation as Gilda◠observes thô feeble in repressing Foreign Enemies yet in home-bred Quarrels was very bold and obstinate But whilst they thus for some Years wore themselves out with continual Acts of mutual Hostility the Famine grew General upon all so that those half-starved Men that remained were forced to maintain their Lives with what they could get by Hunting so that at last the miserable Remnants of this afflicted People having now no other Remedy left were constrained to write doleful Letters to Aetius then the Emperour's Lieutenant in Gaul directed To Aetius thrice Consul the Groans of the Britains wherein they thus complain The Barbarians drive us to the Sea whilst the Sea driveth us back to the Barbarians between these two sorts of Deaths we must be either slain or drown'd What Answer they received is uncertain but Gildas expresly tells us That they received no Assistance by those Letters because Aetius then expected a War with Attilla King of the Huns. And indeed about these Times a terrible
Coleman that he was resolved to quit his Bishoprick and depart into Scotland to the Isle of Hye from whence he cam◠rather than to comply with it from whence he also departed into Ireland here called Scotland where he built a Monastery in that Country and lived all the rest of his days and in which only English Men were admitted at the time when Bede wrote his History But after the departure of Coleman one Tuda who had been ordained Bishop among the Southern Scots was made Bishop of Lindisfarne but he enjoyed that Bishoprick but a very little while But after the Death of Bishop Tuda according to the Life of Bishop Wilfrid King Oswi held a great Council with the Wise Men of his Nation whom they should chuse in the vacant See as most fit for that holy Function when they all with one Consent nominated and chose Abbot Wilfrid as the fittest and worthiest Person to succeed him but being to be Consecrated he refused it from any Bishop at home because he look'd upon them all as Uncanonical being all ordained by Scotish Bishops who differed from the Roman Church about this Point of keeping Easter so that he would needs go over into France for Ordination where staying too long the King put Ceadda who had lately come out of Ireland into his Place which Wilfred upon his return much resenting retired to his Monastery at Ripon and there resided as also sometimes with Wulfher King of Mercia or else with Ecghert King of Kent till he was restored to his See Bede tells us that the above-mentioned Eclipse was followed by a sudden Pestilence the same Year which first depopulating the Southern Parts of Britain then proceeded to the Northern wherein Bishop Tuda deceased it also invaded Ireland and there took off many Religious as well as Secular Persons The same Year also according to Florence Ercombert King of Kent dying left that Kingdom to Egbert his Son Also Ethelwald King of the East Angles dying this Year Aldulf succeeded him About this time according to Bede Siger and Sebba succeeding Swidhelm in the Kingdom of the East Saxons being unsteady in the Faith and supposing the late great Pestilence to have fell upon them for renouncing their old Superstition relapsed again to Idolatry and rebuilt the Idol-Temples hoping by that means to be defended from the present Mortality but as soon as Wulfher King of the Mercians to whom this Kingdom was then subject heard of it he sent Bishop Jaruman to them who together with their Fellow-Labourers by their sound Doctrine and gentle Dealing soon reclaimed them from their Apostacy This Mortality is also partly confirmed by Mat. Westminster who the next Year relates so great a Mortality to have raged in England that many Men going in Troops to the Sea-side cast themselves in headlong preferring a speedy Death before the Torments of a long and painful Sickness thô this seems to be no other than the great Pestilence which raged the Year before unless we suppose it to have lasted for 2 Years successively The same Year also according to the Account of an ancient British Chronicle lately in the Possession of Mr. Robert Vaughan Cadwallader last King of the Britains having been forced by a great Famine and Mortality to quit his Native Country and to sojourn with Alan King of Armorica finding no hopes of ever recovering his Kingdom from thence went to Rome where professing himself a Monk he died about 8 Years after Now thô the British History of Caradoc Translated by Humphrey Lloyd and Published by Dr. Powel places Cadwallader's going to Rome Anno 680 which Mr. Vaughan in the Manuscript I have by me and which is already cited in the former Book proves can neither agree with the Account of the said old Chronicle nor yet with the Time of the great Mortality above-mentioned for Caradoc and Geoffery of Monmouth do both place Cadwallader's going to Rome in the Year of the great Pestilence which as Bede and Mat. Westminster testifie fell out in the Year 664 or 665 and therefore that learned Antiquary very well observes That as for their Calculation who prolong Cadwallader's Life to the Year 688 or 689 and place his going to Rome in Pope Sergius's time he thinks they had no better Warrant for it than their mistaking Ceadwalla King of the West Saxons who then indeed went to Rome and there died for this Cadwallader who lived near 20 Years before whereby they have confounded this History and brought it into a great deal of uncertainty whereas that ancient Appendix annex'd to the Manuscript Nennius in the Cottonian Library whose Author lived above 300 Years before either Geoffery or Caradoc doth clearly shew that this Monastery above-mentioned and consequently Cadwallader's going to Rome happened in the Reign of Oswi King of Northumberland who according to the Saxon Annals began to Reign Anno 642 and died Anno 670 and therefore no other Mortality ought to be assigned for Cadwallader's going to Rome than this in King Oswi's Reign Anno 665 for the Words of the said old Author are these Oswi the Son of Ethelfred reigned 28 Years and 6 Months and whilst he reigned there happened a great Mortality of Men Catwalater so he spells it then reigning over the Britains after his Father and therein perished Now the Case is clear if these Words in the Latin Et in ea periit have relation to Cadwallader as most likely they have considering Oswi lived 5 Years after the Year 665 wherein this Mortality raged then Cadwallader never went to Rome at all but died of this Plague but of this I dare not positively determine since the greater part of the Welsh Chronicles are so positive in Cadwallader's dying at Rome But to return to our Annals This Year Oswi King of Northumberland and Ecgbrith King of Kent with the Consent of the whole English Church as Bede relates sent Wigheard the Presbyter to Rome to be there made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury but he died almost as soon as he arrived So that Theodorus being the next Year consecrated Arch-Bishop was sent into Britain Of which Transaction Bede gives us this particular Account About this time also as Bede relates Wina Bishop of Winchester being driven from his See by King Kenwalch went and bought the See of London of King Wulfher This is the first Example of Simony in the English Church The See of Canterbury had been now vacant for above 3 Years for the Pope was resolved himself to Ordain an Arch-Bishop and at last at the Recommendation of one Adrian a Greek Monk who might have been Arch-Bishop himself but refused it the Pope chose this Theodorus then a Monk and a Native of Tharsus in Cilicia who being an excellent Scholar brought the knowledge of the Greek Tongue as also Arithmetick Musick and Astronomy in use among the English Saxons This Arch-Bishop immediately upon his coming into England made a thorough Visitation of
Midsummer being joyfully received both by the Danes and English and as H. Huntington relates was by both of them elected King though afterwards the Great Men that did it paid dearly for it for not long after it was decreed That a Tax of Eight Marks should be again paid to the Rowers in Sixty two Sail of Ships The same year also a Sâ—ster i. e. a Horse-load of Wheat was sold for Fifty five Pence and more This year Eadsige the Archbishop went to Rome and also another Military Tax was paid of Twenty nine thousand twenty nine pounds And after this was paid Eleven thousand forty eight pounds for two and thirty Sail of Ships But whether these Taxes were raised by Authority of the Great Council of the Kingdom our Authors do not mention but I believe not for this Danegelt was now by constant usage become a Prerogative The same year came Eadward the Son of King Aethelred into this Kingdom from Wealand by which our Annals mean Normandy After which time Prince Edward returned no more thither but staid in England till his Brother died But the same year not long after his Coronation he sent Alfric Archbishop of York and Earl Godwin and divers Great Men of his Court to London attended by the Hangman and out of Hatred to his Brother Harold and Revenge of the Injuries done to his Mother as he pretended commanded his Body to be dug up and the Head to be cut off and flung into the Thames but some Fishermen afterwards pulling it up with their Nets buried it again in St. Clement's Church-yard being then the Burying-place of the Danes The same year also according to Bromton's Chronicle King Hardecnute sent over his Sister Gunhilda to the Emperor Henry to whom she had been in her Father's life-time betroth'd But before she went the King kept the Nuptial Feast with that Magnificence in Cloaths Equipage and Feasting that as Mat. Westminster relates it was remembred in his time and sung by Musicians at all great Entertainments But this Lady was received and treated by the Emperor her Husband with great kindness for some time till being accused of Adultery she could find it seems no beter a Champion to vindicate her Honour than a certain little Page she had brought out of England with her who undertaking her defence fought in a single Combat against a man of a vast Stature named Rodingar and by cutting his Hamstrings with his Sword and falling down he obtained the Victory and so cleared his Lady's Honour of which she yet received so little satisfaction that she forsook her Husband and retired into a Monastery where she ended her days About this time also as Simeon of Durham Bromton's Chronicle and other Authors inform us King Hardecnute was highly incensed against Living Bishop of Worcester and Earl Godwin for the death of his Half Brother Alfred Son to King Ethelred Alfric Archbishop of York accusing them both of having persuaded King Harold to use him so cruelly as you have already heard The Bishop and Earl being thus accused before King Hardecnute the former was deprived of his Bishoprick and the latter was also in very great danger But not long after the King being appeased with Money the Bishop was again restored and as for Earl Godwin he had also incurred some heavy Punishment had he not been so cunning as to buy his peace as these Authors relate by presenting the King with a Galley most magnificently equipp'd having a gilded Stern and furnished with all Conveniences both for War and Pleasure and mann'd with Eighty choice Soldiers every one of whom had upon each Arm a Golden Bracelet weighing sixteen Ounces with Helmet and Corslet all gilt as were also the Hilts of their Swords having a Danish Battel-Axe adorned with Silver and Gold hung on his Left Shoulder whilst in his Left Hand he held a Shield the Boss and Nails of which were also gilded and in his Right a Launce in the English-Saxon Tongue called a Tegar But all this would not serve his turn without an Oath That Prince Alfred had not his eyes put out by his Advice but he therein merely obeyed Harold's Commands being at that time his King and Master This year according to Simeon of Durham King Hardecnute sent his Huisceorles i. e. his Domestick Servants or Guards to exact the Tax which he had lately imposed But the Citizens of Worcester and the Worcestershire men rising slew two of them called Feadar and Turstan having fled into a Tower belonging to a Monastery of that City Thereupon Hardecnute being exceedingly provoked to hear of their deaths sent to revenge it Leofric Ealdorman of the Mercians Godwin of the West-Saxons Siward of the Northumbrians and others with great Forces and orders to kill all the men plunder and burn the City and waste the Countrey round about On the evening preceding the thirteenth of November they began to put his Commands in execution and continued both wasting and spoiling the City and Countrey for four days together but few of the Inhabitants themselves could be laid hold of the Countrey-men shifting for themselves every man as well as they could and the Citizens betaking themselves to a little Island in the Severne called Beverege which they fortified and vigorously stood upon their Defence till their Opposers being tired out and spent were forced to make Peace with them and so suffered them to return quietly home This was not done till the fifth day when the City being burnt the Army retreated loaded with the Plunder they had got Simeon next after this cruel Expedition places the coming over of Prince Edward but our Annals with greater probability put his Return under the year before This year also King Hardecnute deceased at Lambeth 6. Id. Junii He was King of England two years wanting seven days and was buried in the New Monastery of Winchester his Mother giving the Head of St. Valentine to pray for his Soul But since our Annals are very short in the Relation of his Death we must take it from other Authors who all agree That the King being invited to a Wedding at the place above-mentioned which with great Pomp and Luxury was solemnized betwixt Tovy sirnamed Prudan a Danish Nobleman and Githa the Daughter of Osgod Clappa a great Lord also of that Nation as he was very jolly and merry carousing it with the Bridegroom and some of the Company he fell down speechless and died in the Flower of his Age. He is to be commended for his Piety and Good Nature to his Mother and Brother Prince Edward But the great Faults laid to this Prince's charge are Cruelty Gluttony and Drunkenness For the first of these you have had a late Example and for the latter take what H. Huntington relates That Four Meals a day he allowed his Court and it must be then supposed he loved eating well himself though this Author attributes it to his Bounty and how he rather desired that
the Meat should be taken away untouched from such as were invited than that those who were not invited should complain for want of Victuals whereas saith he the custom of our time is either out of Covetousness or as they pretend because their people cannot eat for Great Men to allow their Followers but one Meal a day which shews that the custom of Set Suppers hath had divers Vicissitudeâ— being not commonly used in England in Great Mens Families at the time when H. Huntington wrote and therefore is an English Custom prevailing since that time the Norman Fashions being then most used John Rouse also in his Manuscript Treatise de Regibus Ang. already cited relates That the day of King Hardâ—cnute's Death was in his time kept by the English as an Holiday being called Hock-Wednesday on which they danced and drew Cords cross the way as they do in several Parishes in England even at this day to stop people till they will pay them some Money King Edward called the Confessor BEfore King Hardecnute was buried all the People chose Edward Aethâ—ling King at London who reigned as long as God permitted him But William of Malmesbury with greater probability says That this King did not come to the Crown without some difficulty for when he had received the News of his Brother Hardecnute's Death he was in great perplexity what was most advisable for him to do at last after mature deliberation he thought it the safest course to trust his Fortune to Earl Godwin's Advice who being sent for to a friendly Conference for some time he was considering whether he should come to him or not but at length he agreed to speak with him and upon the Enterview Edward was about to lay himself at his Feet but that he would by no means suffer Then the Prince earnestly desired he would assist him in his safe return to Normandy when immediately Godwin gave him this unexpected answer That he had better live gloriously King of England than dye ignominiously in Exile That the Crown did of Right belong to him as Son of Ethelred and Grandchild of Edgar That he was one of mature Age inur'd to Labour and who had learnt by experience how to order Publick Affairs with Justice and had been taught by his own late Afflictions how to remove and prevent the Miseries of the People That to bring this about there would be no great Obstacle for if he would but trust himself to him he should find that his Interest was very powerful in the Nation and that Fortune would be favourable to his just Pretensions and if he would accept of the Royal Dignity he was confident there would be none to oppose it but on condition that he would establish a firm Friendship with him and his Family by promising to prefer his Sons and marry his Daughter that then he should soon find himself a King Edward's case at this time was such as not to reject so fair Proposals but rather agree to any Conditions and comply with the present state of Affairs whatsoever therefore Godwin required he promised and swore to perform Now the Earl was a Man fitted by Nature for managing such an Intrigue having a very smooth and plausible Tongue so Eloquent that he could move and charm the Affections of the People insinuate into them whatsoever he pleased and bring them entirely over to his Interest and Service Upon this he procures a Great Council to be summoned at Gillingham some Copies have it at London and there he influenced some by his own Authority gain'd over others by his Promises and those who were inclined before to Prince Edward's Cause he fully settled and confirmed to his Party the rest that made opposition being over-power'd were first of all turn'd out of their Places and then banished the Land The Annals of the Abby of Winchester printed in the Monast. Ang. from the Manuscript in the Cottonian Library not only agree with William of Malmesbury in this Relation but are also much more particular viz. That Prince Edward coming to Godwin one morning in disguise to London fell at his Feet begging him to preserve his Life but the Earl taking him up promised to use him like his Son and also gave him farther Encouragements and Assurance so that Edward returning again to Winchester to his Mother Godwin shortly after summoned all the Great Men of the Kingdom to meet there to consult about making a New King Then these Annals proceed to relate the manner of this Election Viz. That Earl Godwin raising the Prince from the place where he sate at his feet being then incognito having his Hood over his Face said thus Behold your King This is Prince Edward the Son of King Ethelred and Queen Emma This is He whom I Elect c. and so first did him Homage Then after some Debates among themselves they all at last consented to his Election so that if it displeased any there they durst not shew their Discontent since Earl Godwin would have it so and Edward being thus Elected was not long after crown'd at Westminster Which is also confirmed by an Ancient Chronicle in the Cottonian Library already cited ending with this Prince which saith That Hardecnute being dead Eadward was advanced to the Crown by the endeavours chiefly of Earl Godwin and Living Bishop of Worcester Bromton's Chronicle farther adds That at this Grand Council all the Great Men of England agreed and swore with one consent That no Danes should reign over them any more because of the great Affronts and Contempts they had received from that Nation For they held the English in such servile subjection That if an Englishman had met a Dane upon a Bridge he was obliged to stand still till the other had passed by and if he had not bowed to the Dane he was sure to be well basted for his neglect so that as soon as King Hardecnute was dead the English drove all the Danes out of the Kingdom But notwithstanding the great happiness the English now received by having a King of their own Nation yet it seems This year was unfortunate for the Intemperance of the Season which as our Annals relate destroyed the Fruits of the Earth so that a great number of Cattel died Also about this time Aelf Abbot of Burgh deceased and Arnwi a Monk was chosen Abbot being a mild and good man About the same time also according to the Welsh Chronicle Prince Conan the Son of Jago who had fled into Ireland to save his life and coming now over from thence being assisted with the Forces of Alfred the Danish King of Dublin entred North-Wales by surprize took Prince Griffyth Prisoner and was carrying him away to his Ships But the people of the Countrey hearing of it they immediately rose and pursued the Irishmen and at last overtaking them rescued their Prince and made a great flaughter among them the rest with much difficulty got to their Ships and returned with
a Boat under the Bridge wounded him to death in the lower parts through a hole that it seems he found there But King Harold returning to York had no long time to enjoy his Victory for immediately after the News being brought him that Duke William was landed at Pevensey near Hastings upon Michaelmas day he made all the haste he could to march towards him leaving the Earls Edwin and Morchar behind him with great part of the Forces But since our Annals are very short in the relation of all these Affairs between the Duke and King Harold I shall give you a larger account of it from William of Malmesbury and other Authors who tell us That Duke William with all his Nobility being met in August at St. Walleries a Port-Town in Normandy lay there a long while waiting for a Wind but that continuing contrary for several days the Soldiers at last began thus to murmur in their Camp as it is ordinary for such men when they lye long still and have nothing to do saying among themselves That the man was mad who would go to take away another man's Territories against God's Will which it was plain this was since he had now so long withheld the Wind. This being spread abroad one would have thought it had been enough to have discouraged any one less valiant than the Duke who thereupon consulting with his Chief Officers what was best to be done the wisest of them advised him to bring forth the Body of St. Wallerie to try if by that means they could obtain a fair Wind however perhaps it might put some stop to his Soldiers Discontents What effect the Saint's Body wrought I cannot tell but so much is certain that not long after a fresh Gale offering the Duke immediately set sail for England and his Ship being first got out to Sea casting Anchor lay there till the rest of his Fleet could come up to him who all following the King's Ship which then rid Admiral they in the Afternoon with an easy and gentle Breeze reached Hastings near which the Duke going on Shore his foot by accident slipping he fell down which a Soldier standing by immediately turned into a good Omen saying Sir you have only taken Seisin of that Land of which you will shortly be King As soon as ever his Army had landed he strictly charged them to commit no Outrages nor plunder saying They ought to spare those things which would shortly be their own So the Duke lying still for fifteen days and having strongly fortified his Camp with certain Palisadoes which he had brought over along with him seemed to mind nothing less than War But King Harold precipitated by his own bad Fortune marched against the Duke with but part of his Forces for besides those that had been killed in the late Engagement a great many of his best Soldiers had already deserted him being discontented that they had been denied their share of the Norwegian Plunder yet those Forces which still remained with him he thought sufficient because he heard the Duke was landed but with a small Army so that notwithstanding the strongest and most valiant of his Army were either slain in the late Battel with the Norwegians or else gone from him he yet resolved to fight King Harold being now arrived near Hastings pitched his Camp upon a Hill about Nine Miles from that place and immediately sent out Spies to give him what Account they could of the Number and Forces of the Enemy some of whom being taken within Duke William's Camp though he might have executed them by the Laws of War yet he only commanded them to be led round about it and then having well fed them he ordered them to be sent back to their Lord and being returned King Harold asked them What news they could tell him They hereupon having set forth the generous Behaviour of the Enemies General seriously added That all their Army seemed to be Priests because they had all their Faces with both their Lips close shaven for the English then wore long Beards But the King laughing at their simplicity said He too well knew those they had seen were no Priests but brave Soldiers then Gyrth his youngest Brother being a very young man but of an Understanding and Courage far above his years taking the words out of the King's mouth said thus Sir if you can so far allow the Valour of the Norman Duke I think it is then indiscreet for you to enter the Field against him lest you should be found inferior to him either in Strength or Justice of your Cause for you can no ways deny but that voluntarily or involuntarily you have sworn to him Therefore in my opinion you would do more prudently to withdraw your self from the present Danger and leave to us the Decision of the Day who being free from all Oaths and Promises can with a safe Conscience draw our Swords in defence of our Countrey for it is to be feared that if you your self should engage either your Death or more shameful Flight may ensue whereas if we alone engage with him your Cause will be every where safe for you may either assist us if we should be put to fly or else bury us if we should happen to be slain But the King 's immoderate Pride and Rashness made him deaf to the wholesome Advice of his Brother and he thought it Inglorious and a Dishonour to his past Life to seem afraid of any Danger Therefore being push'd on by his unlucky Fate he hastily sent away the Monk that was newly before come from Duke William to him with these Proposals viz. That either he should quit the Throne or hold it and reign under him or else try the Justice of his Cause by their two single Swords in the sight of both Armies or in case Harold should refuse all these that he was ready to submit it to the Judgment of the Apostolick See I say he hastily sent him away with only this short Answer That he would leave it to God to determine the matter between them So that the Monk being returned with this Answer it added fresh Courage to the Normans whereupon the Generals on both sides immediately drew up their Armies in order to a Battel each according to his Countrey fashion The English had spent the night in drinking and roaring and being thus heated marched early out the next morning against the Enemy The Pikes and Bill-men mingled with a strong Detachment of Targetiers made up the Front and Main Body of the English Army and by their close Order render'd it so impenetrable that nothing but their being outwitted by the Norman Duke could ever have broke it as you will see by and by But King Harold together with his Brethren being all on foot placed themselves near the Royal Standard that by thus being all of them in equal danger with the meanest Soldier no man should so much as think of Flight Whilst in the
of Land to one Wulfred By the Assistance of King Aethelwulf made North-Wales subject to him Marries Aethelwulf's Daughter with great Solemnity l. 5. p. 261 262. Is forced by the Danes to desert his Kingdom and pass the Seas to Rome where not long after he died and was buried at the English College in the Church of St. Mary Id. p. 277. Byrinus an Italian coming hither by his Preaching converts the West-Saxons and had a City in Oxfordshire conferred on him to fix his Episcopal See in l. 4. p. 179. Baptizes Cuthred at Dorchester being a Prince of the Blood-Royal Id. p. 180. Byrnstan consecrated Bishop of Winchester and how long he held it l. 5. p. 331. His Death and Burial at Winchester Id. p. 332 333. C CAdelh Prince of South-Wales is fallen upon by his Brother Anarawd who grievously spoils his Countries l. 5. p. 299. Second Son to Rodoric the Great and Father to Howel Dha his Decease Id. p. 315. Cadocus Abbot of Lancarvan in Glamorganshire His Life written by John of Tinmouth l. 3. p. 149. Cadwallader his supposed Journey to Rome l. 3. p. 145. The last King of the Britains His death l. 4. p. 190 191. Cadwallo King of the Britains an Account of his being routed and killed l. 4. p. 177. Cadwallo and Ceadwalla these two Names are confounded together by the British Historians Id. p. 204. Cadwallo supposed to be Edwal sirnamed Ywrch and for what reason Id. p. 205. Cadwallo succeeds his Father Cadwan in the Kingdom of Britain Id. p. 171. Is overcome by Edwin and flies to Ireland but returning afterwards he beats Penda and they joining together fight Edwin and slay him and rout his whole Army He is in Profession a Christian but in his Actions shews himself worse than a Pagan Id. p. 176. Cuts off Osric on a sudden and all his Army and basely kills Eanfrid Id. p. 177. Cadwan Prince of North-Wales is chose King of all the Britains l. 3. p. 149. Caedmon the English-Saxon Poet what he wrote and what he printed l. 4. p. 199. Caerialis Petilius sent hither as soon as Vespatian was acknowledged in Britain as his Lieutenant He had inured Agricola to Labours and Dangers l. 2. p. 54. Caer-Leon upon Usk in South-Wales an Archiepiscopal See l. 3. p. 149. Caesar's landing in Britain in the Reign of Cassibelan a small Inland Prince l. 1. p. 19. l. 2. p. 33. His Account of the Inhabitants their Religion and Manner of living l. 2. p. 21. The Pretences he made for his Expedition hither l. 2. p. 24. But first he sends Ca. Volusenus to make his Observations of the Countrey and then upon on his Arrival Ambassadors come to him from divers Princes and States of this Island promising Obedience to the Roman Empire Id. p. 25. He had no great cause to boast of his first Expedition and why l. 2. p. 29. Most of his Horse were cast away in a violent Storm therefore goes into Italy resolving to make another Descent upon them and orders new Ships to be built and directs after what Model whereupon six hundred such were built besides eight and twenty Gallies Id. p. 30. Setting sail again for Britain and landing he fought and conquered the next day he had news That by a great Tempest rising that night forty of his Ships had fallen foul upon one another and were lost and the rest much shatter'd Id. p. 31 32. His care about the remainder and directions for others to be built His Engagements with the Britains and their various successes Id. p. 32 33 34. His description of a British Town Id. p. 35. Makes Cassibelan submit and give Hostages to him and then goes over to the Continent and at his Return to Rome he offers to Venus a Breast-plate covered with British Pearl Id. Ib. Calais never used for a Port until Philip Earl of Buloigne built and walled the Town l. 2. p. 31. Calcuithe the troublesome Synod there where Archbishop Janbryht lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield l. 4. p. 233 235. The Nicene Creed and the Seven first General Councils received and confirmed in it and many Canons made concerning Matters of Religion and Ecclesiastical Discipline Id. p. 233. There were two distinct Sessions of it Id. p. 234. It was supposed to be held in the Kingdom of Mercia Ibid. A Synod held there under Wilfrid Archbishop of Canterbury and Kenwulf King of the Mercians l. 5. p. 251. Caledonians make great Preparations for War in shew more than in reality against Agricola l. 2. p. 58. But they were miserably routed by his Forces Id. p. 59. Rodorick King of the Picts aids them but is slain by Marius Id. p. 66. Caligula Caius the Magnificent Letters he sent to Rome l. 2. p. 37. Marches his Army to the Belgick Shore and his foolish Bravado after he had put a little to Sea in a Galley and then returned to Land carrying the Shells that he and his Army had gathered on the shore to Rome and his Galleys and demands a Triumph but the Senate refused it and at last he was murthered Id. p. 38. Camalodunum now Maldon in Essex where Andraste supposed to have been the Goddess of Victory had a Temple l. 2. p. 24. On the Reverse of Kynobelin's Coin is CAM signifying Camalodunum which was his Royal Seat Id. p. 37 40. Taken by Claudius who obtaining a Victory over the Britains left them to the Government of Plautius Id. p. 40. Cambden's History in Latin commended highly by this Author l. 2. p. 20. Cambria Vid. Wales Cambridge anciently called Caer-grant and Grant-Chester l. 1. p. 14. Grantbridge l. 5. p. 272 322. l. 6. p. 34. Quatbridge l. 5. p. 302. And Grantecester l. 5. p. 318. Lay in the Kingdom of the East Angles and had no University or School there in the time of King Alfred l. 4. p. 179 180. The Antiquity of this University illustrated l. 5. p. 318. All their former Privileges confirmed by King Edward the Elder 's Charter to them for ever to endure by a perpetual Right Id. p. 317 318. Improbable that it should have continued an University during the Danish Wars under the Possession of Three Danish Kings but this Edward did restore the University Id. p. 318. Is burnt by the Danes with Oxford likewise and then all Studies ceased at both places till about 1133. from which time the Scholars have continued at both Universities l. 6. p. 34 35. Camelford in Cornwall anciently Gafulford where was a Battel fought between the Britains and Devonshire-men the latter getting the Victory l. 5. p. 253. Candida Casa Vid. Witerne Candidus a Presbyter whom the Pope sent to receive and dispose of the Church's Revenues in France l. 4. p. 153. Canterbury anciently called Caerkin by whom it was first pretended to be built l. 1. p. 10. And Cantwic l. 5. p. 259. The Metropolis of King Ethelbert's Kingdom appointed for the Residence of Augustine and his Monks l. 4. p. 153
p. 174 176. Had after Redwald's death the Kingdom of the East-Angles delivered up to him by the People Id. p. 175. Causes Brass-Pots to be set upon Posts at Fountains near the High-ways for Travellers to drink in and had a Banner carried before him as he went through the streets Ibid. Chief King over all the English-Saxons overcomes Cadwallo King of the Britains and conquers almost all his Countrey Id. p. 176. His Head brought to York and deposited in St. Peter's Church there which he had begun to build Ibid. He was the fifth King that ruled over all Britain l. 5. p. 254. Edwin and Ethelwin Sons of Prince Ethelwerd are slain in a fight against Anlaff King of the Danes and buried in the Church of the Abbey of Malmesbury l. 5. p. 311. Edwin Aetheling drowned with an Account how the greatest Blot in King Athelstan's Reign l. 5. p. 331 337. Edwin the Brother of Leofric Earl of Mercia is overcome by Griffyth ap Lewellin ap Sitsylt and slain at Pencadair l. 6. p. 64 65. Edwold Brother to St. Edmund the Martyr lived and died a Hermit in the Abbey of Cerne in Dorsetshire l. 6. p. 22. Egbert succeeds his Father Ercenbryht in the Kingdom of Kent l. 4. p. 189. Gives Reculf to Basse the Priest and at his Death bestows part of the Isle of Thanet to build a Monastery for expiating the Murther of his Cousins whom he had caused to be slain His decease Id. p. 192 193. Egbert the Priest a Venerable Person coming out of Ireland converts the Monks of Hij to the right Faith so that they afterwards observed the Catholick Rites and when he had lived with them here thirteen years dies l. 4. p. 217 220. Egbert made Bishop of York and the next year after receives a Pall from the Pope whereby he became an Archbishop and so Metropolitan of all the Northumbrian Provinces and had supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia l. 4. p. 222 223. His Death and Burial He was base Brother to the King of the same Name who regained the Pall to that See Built a Noble Library in York accounted then one of the best in Europe Id. p. 223 229. Egbert the Son of Aealmond was the Father of Athulf or Athelwulf l. 4. p. 233. Egbert or Egferth the Son of Offa King of the Mercians is anointed King with him l. 4. p. 233 235. When he began his Reign but within a few Months after dies Id. p. 240. Egbert or Ecgbryht King of the West-Saxons when he began to reign l. 4. p. 242. His Succession to Brihtric and afterwards Chief or Supreme King of this Kingdom Id. p. 243. l. 5. p. 254. Through Brihtric's jealousy he is forced to fly to King Offa for Refuge from him he retires into France where he tarries three years and so polishes the roughness of his own Countrey Manners Id. p. 243. But is upon Brihtric's Death without Issue recalled by the West-Saxon Nobility and ordained King and reigned with great Glory and Honour Id. p. 244. He unites all the Heptarchy into one Kingdom to the lasting Peace of the English Nation l. 5. p. 245. Leaves the Mercians Northumbrians and East-Angles to be held by their respective Princes as Tributaries to his Crown Id. p. 2 46 253 254 255. Is ordained King which Ethelwerd expresly terms his Election as being the only surviving Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West-Saxon Kings as great Nephew so Ina by his Brother Inegilds Id. p. 247 255. And in a Parliament at Winchester by the Consent of his People he changes the name of this Kingdom into that of England Id. Ibid. Makes up a Peace between Eardulf and Kenwulf and hath it confirmed by Oath l. 5. p. 248. Absolutely subdues Cornwall and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. p. 249. Subdues the Northern Welsh-men making them Tributary to him and enters again their Borders upon a fresh Rebellion and lays them wast from North to South with Fire and Sword Id. p. 250 251 254 255. Obtains a great Victory over Beornwulf King of the Mercians the Kentish and Surrey men the South and East-Saxons all submit to him Id. p. 253 254 255. Subdues the Kingdom of Mercia and all the South of Humber He was the Eighth King that ruled over all Britain the Seven before him are there enumerated Id. p. 254. Is offered Peace and due Subjection by the Northumbers having led an Army against them as far as Dore a place supposed to be beyond Humber He was the greatest King that till then had ever reigned in England He expels Withlaff King of Mercia and adds it to his own Kingdom Id. Ibid. Vanquishes Switherd King of the East-Saxons and drives him out of the Kingdom which ever after that Expulsion the West-Saxon Kings possessed He wastes Northumberland and makes Eanred the King thereof his Tributary Is crowned King of Britain by the Consent of the Clerus and Populus in a Great Council which he summoned to meet at Winchester Ibid. Encounters Thirty Ships of Danish Pyrates at Carrum in Gloucestershire but after a great slaughter the latter kept the field being the only time that Fortune ceased to favour his Undertakings Id. p. 256. Fights the Danes and Cornish-men at Hengston in Cornwall and beats them His Death having reigned thirty seven years and seven months and Character For nine years reigned Supreme King over all Britain Id. p. 257. His Burial at Winchester Id. p. 258. Egbert King of the Northumbers is by them expelled His Death and who succeeded to him l. 5. p. 277. Egelfleda sirnamed the Fair the Daughter of Earl Ordmar whether King Edgar's Wife or Concubine uncertain l. 6. p. 12. Egelnoth Vid. Ethelnoth Egfrid or Ecverth succeeds Oswi in the Kingdom of Northumberland l. 4. p. 192. Wages War with Wulfher and wins from him all the Countrey of Lindsey Id. p. 193 196. Gives Abbot Benedict as much Land as served Seventy Families lying near the Mouth of the River Wir in the Bishoprick of Durham Id. p. 194. Had a great Contention with Bishop Wilfrid who was expelled his Bishoprick Id. p. 196 197. Fights with Ethelfred near Trent Id. p. 198. Sends a great Army to Ireland which miserably wastes that Nation Id. p. 201. He and his Army through rashness are all cut off by the Picts Id. p. 202 211. Eglesburh now called Alesbury in Buckinghamshire l. 3. p. 145. Egonesham now Enisham in Oxfordshire Id. Ib. Egric upon King Sigebert's Resignation and turning Monk becomes King of the East-Angles l. 4. p. 179. His Death Id. p. 181. Egwin Bishop of Worcester founds the Abbey of Evesham and upon what occasion râ—ported l. 4. p. 216 217. Egwinna a Lady the Daughter of a Noblâ—man whose Name is not certainly known Her strange Dream and how she came afterwards to yield to the Importunities of Prince Edward the Elder on whom he begot Athelstan that is The most Noble that succeeded him in the Kingdom l.
upon her the Habit of a Nun at Were-well a Nunnery which she had lately founded and also builds another at Ambresbury Id. p. 20. Ethelfrid a Prince most skilful in War though utterly ignorant of the Christian Religion l. 4. p. 171. Ethelgar Bishop of Selsey succeeds Archbishop Dunstan in the See of Canterbury enjoys it but a Year and Three Months and then dies l. 6. p. 22. Ethelheard his Kinsman succeeds Ina in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons l. 4. p. 219. Fights with and worsts Oswald Aetheling the Son of Aethelbald and forces him to flee l. 4. p. 220. Ethelheard Vid. Aethelheard The Abbot is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Death of Janbryht l. 4. p. 236. Calls a Synod that confirms all things relating to the Church which had been made before the King Withgar Id. p. 241. Goes to Rome to obtain his Pall Id. p. 242. Ethelnoth Ailnoth or Egelnoth a Monk and Dean of Canterbury is consecrated Archbishop of that See by Wulstan Archbishop of York l. 6. p. 51. Goes to Rome and is honourably received by Pope Benedict who put on his Pall with his own hands Id. p. 53. Consecrates Aelfric Archbishop of York at Canterbury and translates the Reliques of Aelfeage his Predecessor from London to Canterbury Id. Ib. A Letter sent to him by Cnute upon his Return from Rome of what he did there Id. p. 55. His Decease Id. p. 65. Ethelred Brother to Wulfher succeeds him in the Kingdom of Mercia his notable Expedition into Kent and recovering all Lindsey from Egfrid and his Fame for Devotion l. 4. p. 195 196. Wastes Kent destroys Rochester and carries away a great deal of Spoil Id. p. 196. A Battel fought and Peace made on condition that this King should pay Egfrid a Pecuniary Mulct Id. p. 198. His Charter to the Monastery of Medeshamsted justly suspected of Forgery Id. p. 200 201. He receives Bishop Wilfrid with great Honour Id. p. 206. Resigns his Kingdom passing by his Son Ceolred whom he had by his Wife Osgilde to his Cousin-German Cenered Son of his Brother Wulfher and himself turns Monk Id. p. 212. Ethelred the Son of Moll is chosen by the Northumbrians for their King in the room of Alhred whom they had expelled from York l. 4. p. 230 236. Is expelled the Land for causing three of his Nobles to be treacherously slain by two of the same Order Id. p. 231. Is again restored to the Kingdom upon Osred's being driven out Id. p. 236 239. Betroths Elfreda the Daughter of King Offa Id. p. 237. Is slain by his own People and said deservedly as having been the Death of Osred his Predecessor Id. p. 239 240. Ethelred the Ealdorman deceases a famous Commander at first but a Monk in the City of York when he died l. 4. p. 240. Ethelred Son to Eanred succeeds his Father in the Kingdom of Northumberland is driven out from his Kingdom but soon after restored to it and about three years after is slain l. 5. p. 260. Ethelred Son of King Ethelwulf reigned in Kent as also over the East and South-Saxons l. 5. p. 265. Began his Reign in West-Saxony after his Brother Ethelbert's Decease Id. p. 267. Makes with his Brother Aelfred a great Slaughter of the Danes at Reading Id. p. 275. Deceases and is buried in the Monastery of Winburne in Dorsetshire but whether slain in Battel or died a Natural Death of the Plague which then reigned is uncertain though this latter is the more probable Id. p. 276. An Account of his Children Ibid. Ethelred Bishop of Wiltunscire is elected Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Decease of Ceolnoth his Predecessor l. 5. p. 274. His Death Id. p. 298. Ethelred Duke or Ealdorman of Mercia and Elfleda his Wife by their Care is Leicester repaired l. 5. p. 314. By their command Caer-Legion that is now Westchester is repaired Id. p. 315. His Decease Id. p. 316. Ethelred Brother to Edward the Martyr elected King and crowned being a lovely Youth l. 6. p. 19. He rather distressed than governed the Kingdom for Seven and thirty years His aversion to Wax-Lights and for what reason Ibid. Lays waste the Bishoprick of Rochester because of some Dissentions between him and the Bishop His sordid Covetousness Id. p. 21 22. A weak and unwarlike Prince and most of the Nobility as bad as himself His Fleet designed to encompass that of the Danes but he was betrayed by Aelfric one of his Admirals who went over to them Id. p. 23. Commands the Eyes of Aelfric's Son to be put out and for what Id. p. 24. Calls a Council who agree upon reading the Pope's Letters to the King to send Ambassadors to the Marquis of Normandy to treat of Peace He receives King Anlaff with great Honour who promises never to insest the English Nation more Id. p. 24 25. Sends for the valiant Son of Waltheof Earl of the Northumbers and for a Reward of his Bravery in overcoming the Scots gives him not only his Father's Countrey but adds to it that of Yorkshire Id. p. 27. Lays Cumberland almost waste because the Prince thereof denied to bear his share in the Tribute paid to the Danes Id. p. 28. Aelgiva Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy comes hither to be married to the King Id. p. 29. At the instigation of Huena one of his Evil Counsellors he commands all the Danes in England to be slain at the Feast of St. Brice because he was told that they endeavoured to deprive him and all his Great Men of their Lives and to seize the Kingdom for themselves Ibid. The Calamities that befel him and his Kingdom hereupon by the coming over King Sweyn from Denmark with a mighty Fleet Id. p. 30. His Displeasure against two Noblemen depriving one of all his Honours and putting out the eyes of the other Id. p. 31. Enters into several Treaties of Peace with the Danes and pays them Tributes in Money as well as Maintenance and Provision but nothing did long oblige them Id. p. 25 29 32 Perceiving his error in the want of a good Fleet commands over all England That out of every Hundred and ten Hides of Land a Ship should be built c. But his Fleet is much destroyed either by Tempest or Fire Id. p. 33. Is betrayed and hindred from falling upon the Danes when his whole Army had hemm'd them in and were just ready to give them Battel His Forces too signified but little to him for when the Enemy went East they were sure to be taken up in the West c. Id. p. 34. He demands of the Londoners full Pay and Victuals for his Army and is in such distress by Sweyn that he is forced to send his Wife and Children into Normandy and afterwards to go thither himself where he tarried till Sweyn died But upon his return to his own Kingdom he is received on conditions to govern them better that he had done before and then is again solemnly crowned at Westminster Id.
Goths by Honorius l. 2. p. 105. Gemote or Hundred-Court every one ought to be present at it l. 6. p. 13 14. General if his heart fails the Army flies A Cowardly General often makes Cowardly Soldiers l. 6. p. 30 87. Gentlemen of ordinary Estates had in King Alfred's time Villages and Townships of their own as well as the King and the Great Men and they received the Penalties due for Breach of the Peace l. 5. p. 295. Geoffrey of Monmouth is the chief if not the only Author of Brutus and his Successors and his History cried out against almost as soon as published l. 1. p. 6. His story of the British War in Claudius the Emperor's time different frrom the Roman Accounts and wherein l. 2. p. 39 40. A notorious Falshood in him about Severus his Death Id. p. 78. His story of Constantine's being elected King by the Britains proved false l. 3. p. 116. His story as to its truth enquired into of Augustine's persuading King Ethelbert to incite Ethelfrid King of Northumberland to make War on the Britains l. 4. p. 164 165. His Account of Cadwallo's being buried at London and his Body put into a Brazen Statue of a Man on Horseback and set over Ludgate for a Terror to the Saxons all false Id. p. 177. Gerent King of the Britains fights with King Ina and Nun his Kinsman l. 4. p. 215. Is supposed to have been King of Cornwall and why Id. p. 216. Germanus and Lupus sent from France to confirm Britain in the Catholick Faith l. 2. p. 107. His second Voyage to Britain upon the renewed Addresses of the Britains to defend God's Cause against Pelagianism l. 3. p. 117. The Miracle he wrought upon a Magistrate's Son the Sinews of whose Legs had been long shrunk up which by his stroking he restored whole as the other Id. Ibid. Gerontius General to Constans brings all Spain under his Obedience l. 2. p. 103. But being turned out of his Command revolts and sets up Maximus one of his Creatures for Emperor His cruel End Id. Ib. Gessoriacum Portus Iccius in Caesar's time afterwards Bononia and now Buloigne l. 2. p. 31 40. Geta Severus the Emperor's Younger Son Governor of the Southern part of this Island l. 2. p. 75. Is killed by the Treachery of his Brother Bassianus in his Mother's Arms Id. p. 77. And Bassianus had taken the Sirname of Antonini Ib. 79. His Name commanded to be razed out of all Monuments by this his wicked Brother which was done accordingly Id. p. 79. Gethic the ancient Scythic or Gethic Tongue the Mother of the German l. 3. p. 122. Gewisses the Nation of the West-Saxons anciently so called received the Christian Faith in the Reign of Cynegils by the preaching of Byrinus an Italian who came hither by the order of Pope Honorius l. 4. p. 179. Gildas designed not any exact History of the Affairs of his Countrey but only to give a short Account of the Causes of the Ruin of it by the Scots Picts and Saxons l. 3. p. 137. His sharp Invective against the British Kings accusing Five of them of very heinous Enormities Id. p. 139. His severe Character of the British Clergy Id. p. 140 141. That he could not Study at Oxford as is supposed by some for the Pagan-Saxons were then Masters of that part of England l. 5. p. 290. Girwy now Yarrow near the mouth of the River Tyne where a Monastery was built in Honour of St. Paul l. 4. p. 194 205 222. Gisa succeeds Duduc in the Bishoprick of Somersetshire i. e. Wells l. 6. p. 88. Glan-Morgan in Wales had its Name from one Morgan who was driven thither by his Brother Cunedage and there slain l. 1. p. 11. Glappa King of Bernicia Reigned for Two years but who he was or how Descended the Authors are silent in l. 3. p. 144. His Death Id. p. 145. Osgat Glappa the Danish Earl when he was Expelled England l. 6. p. 73. Glass when the Art of making it was first taught the English Nation l. 4. p. 194. Glastenbury Besieged by King Arthur in Gildas his time with a great Army out of Cornwal and Devonshire because Queen Gueniver his Wife had been Ravished from him by Melvas who then Reigned in Somersetshire l. 3. p. 135. The Ancient Registers of this Monastery are not to be wholly slighted as false since King Arthur was there Buried and his Tomb discovered about the end of the Reign of King Henry the Second Id. p. 137. This Ancient Monastery was new built by King Ina with large Endowments and Exemptions from Episcopal Jurisdictions c. l. 4. p. 218 219. King Edmund's Body was brought from a place called Pucklekirk where he was killed hither and here buried l. 5. p. 345. And so likewise King Edgar's with great Solemnity for he had been a very liberal Benefactor to this Monastery l. 6. p. 9. As was Edmund Sirnamed Ironside his Grandson's This was by all the Saxons called Glaestingabyrig Id. p. 48. Gleni a River but where is not by our Authors mentioned l. 4. p. 174. Glewancester now called Gloucester l. 3. p. 145. Glotta and Bodotria two Streights now the Fâ—iths of Edinburgh and Dunbritton in Scotland l. 2. p. 99. God in Bede's time was served in Five several Languâ—ges l. 1. p. 5. Goda Earl of Devonshire marching out with one Strenwald a Valiant Knight to fight the Danes they were both killed l. 6. p. 22. Godfathers answerable for those Children for whom they stand till they come to years capable of Learning the Creed and the Lord's Prayer l. 4. p. 233. Godfred Son of Harold the Dane subdues the whole Isle of Anglesey and spoils all the Land of Dywet with the Church of St. David's c. l. 6. p. 7.20 Godiva a Foundress with her Husband Leofrick Earl of the Mercians of the Monastery of Coventry and how she freed the said Town from the Grievous Taxes imposed on it l. 6. p. 71. Godmundingham the place where an Idol-Temple stood in King Edwin's time not far from York Eastward near the River Darwent l. 4. p. 174. Godwin Earl Governor or Lord Lieutenant of West-Saxony l. 6. p. 61. His Treachery to Alfred one of King Ethelred's Sons whom by a Forged Letter in the Name of Queen Emma his Mother he enticed over into England then made him Prisoner at Guilford and sent him up to Harold and what afterwards became of him and his Six hundred followers his Eyes put out and he not long survived their loss and most of them suffered various kinds of cruel Deaths Id. p. 62 63. Is accused of the Villany by Aelfrick Archbishop of York and how he purchased his Reconciliation to King Hardecnute Id. p. 67. By his Interest gets Edward the Confessor the Brother of the abovementioned Alfred to be Elected and afterwards Crowned King at Westminster Id. p. 69 70. His own and his Son 's great Power in being able to withstand the King and all the Nobility that